ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Army soldiers foiled an alleged attempt by Abu Sayyaf bandits to stage bomb attacks following the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) along a road leading to a tourist site in Indanan, Sulu on Saturday.
Troopers of the Army’s 100th Infantry Battalion were conducting security patrol when they discovered the IED hidden under the shrubs leading to Mt. Tumatangis, according to Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, chief of the Army’s 11th Division.
The mountain, formerly occupied by the bandits and other lawless elements, has been turned into one of the most frequented sites by local tourists.
The troopers, led by 2Lt. Enrey Rafael, immediately secured the area and sought the help of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit.
“The IED showed that the terrorists are bent on harming not only our troops, but also the civilians,” Patrimonio said.
“We will continue to hunt down the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits. It is only a matter of time before we can finally say that Sulu is completely free from these terrorists,” he added.