The military on Wednesday foiled an attempted terrorist attack following the killing of two suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters carrying an improvised explosive device at a checkpoint in Cotabato.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the explosion in Lamitan, Basilan, rose to 11 after another one of the wounded died in the hospital on Tuesday.
Gerry Inso, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, died at 6:52 pm.
Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the two still unidentified BIFF members were killed in a shootout with soldiers shortly after they were questioned at a checkpoint in Sangat village in Mlang, Cotabato, around 3:30 am.
Encinas said the two terrorists were on board a motorcycle and carrying a paper bag when they were flagged down few meters from the barrier.
The foiled bombing attempt came barely eight days after an explosive device prematurely went off shortly after it was intercepted at a checkpoint in Bulanting, Basilan, leaving 10 people dead.
At the checkpoint, the two suspects were alarmed as the troops began interrogating them.
They attempted to escape and one of them drew a gun and fired at the troops, but the soldiers and then fired at them, killing them on the spot.
Encinas said the soldiers discovered an IED made of an 81mm mortar and recovered a cal. 45 pistol.
He said the interception of the suspects took place after a tip from a civilian in Cotabato.
He said the IED was detonated after the shootout.
Encinas said the IEDs were to be transported to the Mlang town proper and could have wreaked havoc there.
“The IED would have been planted somewhere in Mlang, Cotabato,” Encinas said.
