MILF condemns CDO
bombing incident
Official of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) condemned and denied having involvement in powerful
explosion that rocked Cagayan de Oro City last week that left eight people dead and injured 46 others.
Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaapar in a
telephone interview expressed his condemnation over the incident and said that
his group (MILF) could not do such barbaric act and killed innocent civilians.’
We extend our condolences to the bereaved family of the innocent victims”
Jaafar said.
One of the national broadsheets
published that “Rogue Muslim rebels tagged in Cagayan de Oro blast but, Jaafar
disclosed “if there was an investigation such as that, are there any evidence
that could point to us the action?” Jaafar assured the people that MILF has
nothing to do with it. He said, they are ready to help the authorities in
solving the bombing incident.
The military intelligence community
said the bomb was made from an 81 mm mortar.
Accordingly, it is normally used by extremist groups like the communist New
People’s Army (NPA). Earlier, NPA issued their condemnation in relation to the
blast.
According to the military, the blast
was carried out by some terrorist groups and disclosed that other than Abu
Sayyaf Group, (ASG), there is also the MILF, its splinter group, the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and the MNLF has also the capacity to carry
out such terroristic attack.
The military source said that it might
also be linked to the ongoing peace negotiations between the MILF and the
government but, it has no evidence to prove it.
The community intelligence also claimed
that the bombing was set off by the group of Basit Usman, a former member of
the MILF Special Operation. It was also
disclosed that the group of Usman was on
a test mission after being trained on bomb making in Lanao del Sur. “We have
solid evidence linking Usman’s group to
the blast”, one of the investigator disclosed. The source also said that the
bombing was carried out by the BIFF, JI and the ASG.
Usman’s group is said to be opposed
to the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.
Prior the explosion, Kyla’s Bistro in Rosario
Arcade in Limketkai Complex was packed with delegates of a medical convention.
Investigators were also attempted to
link if the incident has some connections with the threat of ill starred board
member Roldan Lagbas which his wife has indicated that his husband has received
“death threat” a year ago.
Weeks before the attack at the City
of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro City, citizens of the United States of America,
Canada and Australia warned not to travel in Mindanao due to possible terrorist
attacks.
Chairman of the city’s Committee On Police and
Public Safety, Ramon Tabor, has reported that the identity of the suspects were
already known and their location which were allegedly heavily guarded by the
police.
Tabor was briefed of the update of the investigation as the
Presidential Anti –Terrorist Group arrived in the city to coordinate with the
intelligence community here.” The combined forces of the military and police
had finally identified the suspects in the bombing although releasing their
names could be premature at the moment” Tabor as quoted in one of the regional
dailies.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the bombing
incident, three companies have cancelled plans to hold conventions in Cagayan
de Oro City. Officials of the region’s Department of Tourism are also
monitoring whether there are more events to be cancelled in the future.
The tourism official’s apprehension
is the slow pace of the police investigation on the bombing incident will cause
more cancellations.
Number of its annual fiesta
activities have been lined up for the entire month of August.( other source
from The Manila Times and Mindanao
Daily News)
