BIFM plot to bomb NCotabato town thwarted

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato  --- Army and police agents on Sunday foiled a bombing attempt here by a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement.

Bomb disposal operatives deactivated an improvised explosive device planted by a certain Armos Salanggao at a busy spot here.

Salanggao, who admitted  that he is a BIFM member, was arrested near Hill Park Inn and Restaurant along Quezon Boulevard at a commercial district here at about 8 a.m. Sunday, according to investigators.

Sr. Supt. Joselito Esquivel, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 12, said Salanggao was intercepted by intelligence agents with the help of local informants.

Salanggao confessed to having left a bomb at a gasoline station and led policemen to its location.

Authorities found the the IED, fashioned from a a live 60mm mortar with “Bruno” marking and old Nokia cellphone as trigger mechanism, few meters away from the gas station.

Salanggao is now under CIDG custody and undergoing tactical interrogation to determine whether there are other IEDs in the area.