Army: Community helps foil bomb plot in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Through the support of the civilian community, troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu were able to recover 700 kilograms of Ammonium Nitrate and one 81mm mortar fuse in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu.

Troops of the 63^rd Mechanized Company acted on a report received from a local resident about the presence of a suspected explosive device in an abandoned house in their locality.

Ammonium Nitrate is considered as a deplorable component for explosives due to its cratering charge effect when mixed with fuel substances.

Results of the SOCO forensic examinations of the Jolo Cathedral and Barangay Tanjung, Indanan bombings show that the main component of the IEDs is Ammonium Nitrate.

“In many occasions, we have neutralized ASG’s scheme in deliberately prepositioning explosives in the outskirts of Metro Jolo ready to be picked-up and delivered by other ASG members to their targets. But we never expected these huge explosive components during the search,” said Brigadier General Leopoldo Imbang Jr, Commander of the 1^st Brigade Combat Team.

Major General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, commended the troops of the 6^th Mechanized Battalion, 1BCT for this very remarkable achievement.

“The recovered items can be used as IEDs that could cause tremendous destruction beyond our imagination. The incident today only points out that the involvement of the civilians is very vital in our security effort. Hence, I encourage the peace-loving Tausugs to continue in supporting the AFP here in Sulu,” Maj. Gen. Vinluan added.

As of this report, investigation is still being conducted to determine the identity of the owner of the recovered explosive components.

“We call on the general public to remain vigilant and immediately report to the security forces of any suspicious person or abandoned things in the vicinity so as to prevent any untoward incident,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.