Troops foil Lamitan bomb attack
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An attempt by Abu Sayyaf bandits to stage a bomb attack in Lamitan City in Basilan was foiled by government security forces, who clashed with the gunmen as they were heading for the city yesterday.
The military said troops from the Army’s 19th Special Forces were patrolling in Barangay Kulaybato at about 3 a.m. when they encountered four members of the Abu Sayyaf’s urban terror group.
The four were reportedly members of the Abu Sayyaf’s hit squad and demolition team under Edris Sampang.
The troops received information about a bomb plot targeting Lamitan City, said Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command.
Muyuela said the bandits retreated after a brief firefight.
Reports said the troops recovered materials used in making IEDs and drug paraphernalia at the scene. The items were reportedly left behind by the bandits.
The botched bomb try was part of the militants’ strategy to extort money from businessmen in Lamitan, said Col. Rolando Bautista, chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade.
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