250-kgs of bomb materials seized in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Joint operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and police Explosive and Ordinance Detection (OED) intercepted Friday a 250-kilo shipment of bomb-making chemicals at the local wharf here.

The confiscation of the bomb chemicals — ammonium nitrate — came amid intelligence reports that the Misuari Renegade Group (MRG) is gearing for terroristic attacks in the city after the holy month of Ramadan that will end tomorrow.

Both the military and police have tightened security measures on all possible staging points of attacks by the MRG that include intensified intelligence surveillance.

Zambonga City police deputy director for intelligence Chief Insp. Jose Bayani Gucela said the 250-kilo shipment of ammonium nitrate was intercepted aboard passenger vessel M/V Nickel Princess at the local wharf coming from the province of Sulu.

Gucela said the joint operation was carried out following an intelligence report that a cargo of bomb-making chemicals was being brought here from Sulu, where the MRG maintains a large force.

The ammonium nitrate was concealed in sacks tightly wrapped with carton boxes when intercepted. No one among the passengers, who had just arrived, claimed ownership of the cargo.

"We are intensifying our intelligence capabilities to pinpoint areas where bomb fillers of explosive-making chemicals are being kept by lawless elements," Gucela said.

Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said they had averted terroristic attacks by seizing the explosives. — Roel Pareño