‘MILF member’ extorted cash from bombed store’s owner

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – An extortionist claiming to be a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) demanded P50,000 in monthly protection money from a department store in Tacurong City before it was bombed Thursday afternoon.

The management of Kim San Plaza in Tacurong City’s main commercial district said they received a letter from a certain Abu Solaiman, who asked for P50,000 a month to "protect" the store from bomb attacks.

Solaiman also sent similar letters to at least four other establishments in Tacurong City, a known trading center in Sultan Kudarat province.

However, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF political affairs chief, denied that a member of the secessionist group was involved in the terrorist bombing and in extorting money from the department store.

"We don’t know (Solaiman), at saka hindi gawain ng MILF ang mang-extort sa mga negosyante," he said.

Speaking on Bombo Radyo-Koronadal, Jaafar urged businessmen to put up a reward for the arrest of Solaiman, and not to give money to extortionists.

"Huwag kayong magbigay," he said. Pag nagbigay kayo parang sinasang-ayunan ninyo ang masama nilang ginagawa. Don’t allow them to exploit you."

Tacurong City police chief Superintendent Joel Limson said the bombing was an attempt by extortionists to pressure the owner of the department store to pay them P50,000 a month.

The department store refused to give in to the extortion demand, which was made two weeks ago, despite the threat of an unspecified attack, he added.

Limson said the owner received an extortion letter, which appeared to have come from the MILF’s 105th Base Command, demanding P50,000.

It was ignored by the department store owner, who reported the matter to the police and military authorities, he added.

Limson said the suspected bomber, a woman, apparently bought the soda, firecracker powder, batteries and wires in the department store and assembled the bomb in a bathroom, where she was seen by a janitor tinkering with an object.

"The attacker definitely has some training in bomb-making," he said.

"She knew security was tight at the gates, but the mall had everything she needed to assemble a small explosive." — With Ramil Bajo, AP