Marines seize 242 sacks of chemical explosives in raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Government troops confiscated a huge volume of ammonium nitrate, a chemical explosive used for making bomb, during a raid in a warehouse in Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi, according to military official yesterday.

Maj. Ramon David Hontiveros, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said elements of the Philippine Marines tracked down on Friday the big haul of explosives in Bonggao and confiscated 242 sacks of 25-kilo each.

He said nine of those sacks were initially intercepted aboard M/L Piaksah, owned and operated by a certain Eding Juaini.

“Follow-up investigation led the Marines to a warehouse in Barangay Lamion where the big stash was uncovered,” Hontiveros said.

He said the warehouse was owned by Holkim Mating alias Radji, who was detained for questioning by the police in Bongao.

Initial result of the investigation showed that the contraband was reportedly brought in from Malaysia and the intended destination was in Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

The military could not immediately say if the chemical explosive could be a logistic supply of the Abu Sayyaf, the militant group blamed on the spate of bombing attacks in Sulu.     – Roel Pareño