The National Bureau of Investigation is now investigating a series of bombing incidents, involving public transportation, which has killed people and injured many more. Similar scenarios like these have been frequently occurring in Mindanao during the time of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, giving hm a justification for imposing Martial Law then. Déjà vu?
Authorities are now looking at the recent bus bombings in Mindanao to prevent similar terror acts from spilling over to the National Capital Region
“The bureau’s probe on the series of bombings is directed at ensuring national security as well as preventing possible major attacks not only in Mindanao but also in the entire country,” it said. “Extortion and terrorism are the motives of the bombing based on information gathered.”
NBI OIC Eric B. Distor traveled with the bureau’s counter-terrorism division and a forensics team to personally lead the investigation.
There have been six bombing incidents on bus lines in the region in the past two years, with four happening this year, NBI said.
The first of the bus bombings this year took place on Jan. 11 in the town of Aleosan, North Cotabato, killing a five-year-old boy and wounding three others. On April 24, a bus exploded in Parang, Maguindanao, injuring at least three passengers.
The most recent bombings took place on May 26 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, hurting two civilians
The NBI also cited a separate roadside bombing on the same day in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat.
The series of bombings started on Jan. 7, 2021, when a local bus operator in Koronadal City received a call about a bomb with an extortion demand from an anonymous caller.
Local police found an improvised explosive device inside one of the buses. CCTV footage showed two male passengers leaving the device inside the bus.
Another attack took place on June 3 last year when a bus was burned in the town of M’lang, North Cotabato, killing three and wounding six other people.
Last week, a suspect in the bombing incidents was killed in a clash with police and military troops in M’lang, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The suspect was identified as a member of the Dawlah Islamiyah terrorist group in Maguindanao province.
Seven bombing incidents have since been reported, including the most recent explosions in Koronadal City in Bukidnon on May 26, 2022.
They were accompanied by NBI forensic experts and an evidence response team led by NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service Ferdinand Lavin and Deputy Director for Intelligence Service Roel Bolivar.
Distor called on NBI regional directors and officials to take part in the investigation.
The series of bombing incidents started on Jan. 7, 2021, with a hoax bomb threat and extortion demand sent to YBLI Koronadal City, South Cotabato office.
At the time of the call, YBLI bus number 2688 was at Kidapawan, Cotabato Overland Terminal, the Manila Times reported.
The bus was searched by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group from the Philippine National Police and an improvised explosive device (IED) was found.
Footage taken from a CCTV camera showed two male passengers leaving the IED inside the bus.
Twenty days later, on Jan. 27, 2021, a bomb exploded inside YBLI bus number 2988 during a stopover at National Highway, Crossing Sibsib, Tulunan, North Cotabato.
The incident claimed the life of a 53-year-old fruit vendor and injured at least four other persons.
Extortion and terrorism were the motives for the bombing, the military said.
Another bombing incident took place on June 3, 2021 where YBLI bus number A-104 was burned at M'Lang, North Cotabato, killing three persons who were trapped inside and injuring six.
The alleged mastermind, Ali Akbar, of the separate bus bombing and burning incidents in North Cotabato was later arrested in Barangay East Patadon, Kidapawan City, June 2021.
This year, four bus bombings occurred in separate locations in Mindanao.
On January 11, a Mindanao Star bus was bombed in Aleosan, North Cotabato, resulting in the death of a five-year-old boy. Three individuals were also injured in the incident. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
On April 24, a Rural Tours bus exploded in Parang, Maguindanao, hurting at least three passengers.
On May 26, two separate explosions transpired in Koronadal.
An IED went off inside a public utility bus moving along Gensan Drive in front of East West Bank in Barangay Zone 3, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, at noon.
Around the same time, another explosion involving another IED occurred at a vacant lot in Barangay New Carmen, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat. No one was hurt in the two bombing incidents.
Distor said the bureau's probe of the series of bombings is directed at ensuring national security as well as to prevent possible major attacks not only in Mindanao but also in the entire country.
Distor, in a statement Wednesday, said the bureau will investigate the Yellow Bus Line, Inc. (YBLI), Mindanao Star Bus, and Rural Tours bomb attacks in Mindanao.
Six attacks have targeted bus lines in Mindanao in the last two years, Distor noted.
According to the NBI, the bombings started Jan. 7, 2021, when a bomb threat and extortion demand was to the YBLI office in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
Police explosives disposal operatives searched YBL bus no. 2688 and found an improvised explosive device that was ruled out as safe.
Tags: #NBI, #bombings, #Mindanao, #security