COTABATO CITY – An explosion near a public market in South Upi, Maguindanao killed a civilian and wounded another passer-by on Tuesday, January 26, even as security forces discovered another unexploded improvised explosive device (IED) later in the day.
South Upi Police Chief Lt. Billy Fontanilla, the explosion took place at around 6 a.m. which killed Alberto delos Santos, and wounded Loreto Palma, both residents of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
Police said they have already identified the suspect who detonated the IED which was fashioned out of an 81mm mortar, and planted along the highway near the public market in Barangay Romongaub in South Upi.
Fontanilla also reported that, four hours after the blast, an unexploded IED, made from a 105mm, was also recovered in the area.
Authorities said the blast had worsened the volatile security situation at the pre-dominantly Christian town, which was marred by an attack on the convoy of Mayor Renalbert Insular and his police escort in the hinterland village of Barangay Pandan on January 3 which killed a civilian, and wounded three municipal employees.
The ambush-slay incident that targeted the mayor was followed by another ambush incident involving Municipal Councillor Basit Kamid, who survived the attack after his security escorts were able to repulse the attackers who waylaid them in Barangay Lamud last January 8.
Authorities tagged the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an Islamic State (IS)-inspired local group, as responsible for the atrocities which stemmed from the land dispute involving a group of Teduray tribesmen and Maguindanaoan settlers in Barangay Itaw.
Amid the series of atrocities in the area, Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, has ordered the creation a task force tasked with carrying out peacekeeping efforts in South Upi, which include an intensified campaign against loose firearms in the area