Troops foil suspected Abu Sayyaf bomb plot

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Marine troopers foiled a plot of suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits to slip and detonate a powerful improvised bomb in Jolo, Sulu, according to security official.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the improvised explosive device (IED) was intercepted about 7:30 p.m. in a checkpoint along the Airport Road at Barangay San Raymundo.

Arrojado said the elements of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) were guarding a checkpoint when they noticed two suspicious men on a motorcycle coming from the downtown of Jolo.

The two unidentified men stopped the motorcycle about 20 meters away from the checkpoint, pretending that the vehicle had a mechanical problem.

Arrojado said the back rider of the motorcycle alighted and left a bag loaded with lansones on the roadside and pushed the motorcycle forward. They passed by the checkpoint and sped off.

“However, the marine trooper noticed the abandoned item and saw electrical wire that raised suspicions that it was an IED,” Arrojado said.

The soldier immediately alerted their K-9 team and the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit.  They searched the bag and discovered the presence of IED.

The troops also alerted the Jolo Police Station led by Police Superintendent Junpikar Sitin and the Sulu Provincial Police Office (SPPO).

The troops immediately disrupted the explosive and safely recovered the bomb.

Arrojado said the IED was composed of two live rounds of 60mm mortars, a box containing two kilograms of ammonium nitrate fuel oil, three pieces of 9-volt batteries and a cellphone as a triggering device.

The recovered bomb was brought to the marine camp for proper disposition.