Bomb-making materials was discovered by authorities in Bukidnon province after concerned villagers reported presence of suspicious-looking persons.
Authorities discovered bomb-making materials of Purok 5, Barangay Lumbo, in Valencia City, Bukidnon province last Thursday.
This was due to the concern of some villagers after they noticed suspicious-looking persons roaming around on the said area early this week and they immediately reported it to the authorities.
Based on the article published in Manila Bulletin, the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), Valencia City Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and army personnel under the 403rd Brigade responded right away.
However, the suspicious-looking persons were already gone in the area when the authorities arrived.
Authorities found the following bomb-making materials in the reported area:
21 improvised hand grenades
5 pieces improvised anti-personnel clamor mines
3 PVC pipes,
52-meter long electrical wire
3 kilograms of soluble fertilizer
200 grams of sulfur
Chemical substances
a kilogram of ANFO (ammonium nitrite, fuel oil)
4 pieces dynamite
60 pieces improvised electric blasting cap
240 kilograms steel cut fragments (round bars)
370-meter safety fuse, gun powder
Steel pipes and other bomb-making materials
These found components might be used to harass military troopers in the province of Bukidnon, according to declassified military and intelligence report.
Due to the discovery of bomb-making components, the Bukidnon Police provincial Office, the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade and all operation control (Opcon) units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police are in heightened security mode.
This is a form of preparation to the impending threat that might happen in the province.
There was a separate police and military report which pointed out that the materials used for making bomb belong to the New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) operating in Bukidnon province and Agusan areas in Caraga region.
As the provincial government of Bukidnon is preparing for the 2018 “Kaamulan” Festival on March 24, 2018, alert status was ordered to all field units of the AFP and PNP.
Previously, two alleged NPA bomb makers, whose identities are withheld, were arrested in Barangay Magangit, Maco town, Compostela Valley last week (Feb. 26), according to Capt. Jerry S. Lamosao, regional Army spokesperson of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division (10th ID).
The arrested bomb makers were members of Ordnance Team, Sub Regional Committee 2 (SRC2) of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), based on the article.