THE Armed Forces is eyeing the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf as behind the bombing at a bus terminal in Isabela City in Basilan on Monday night that injured two persons.
“We suspect it’s the ASG. The most probable suspect is (Abu Sayyaf),” said Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr, commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), in a phone interview yesterday.
“We’ve been saying that they are already small (in membership in Basilan) so they are trying to remain significant, if they are really responsible,” Rosario also said.
The bombing occurred at around 6:15 p.m. at the terminal of D’Biel Bus in Barangay Lapiedad, causing minor injuries to a security guard and a female storekeeper.
Thirty minutes earlier, an explosion occurred at a branch of the fastfood chain Jolibee in Barangay Isabela Proper, about 800 meters away from the bus terminal. No one was hurt in the incident.
Westmincom spokesman Maj. Andrew Linao said post-blast investigation showed the explosion at the Jollibee store was merely caused by faulty wiring.
Del Rosario said the bombing at the bus terminal could have been perpetrated by a group of extortionists “whose intention is not really to inflict casualty.”
Del Rosario said the AFP and the PNP have launched intelligence operations to identify the perpetrators.
He said investigators are also interviewing personnel of the bus company to determine if it received threats prior to the bombing.
“We are looking into several angles, in coordination with the PNP,” said Rosario.
Rosario said the bombing in Isabela City was not related to the bombing of a passenger bus in Koronadal City in South Cotabato last May 29 that injured a tricycle driver.
Rosario said the bus bombing was perpetrated by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to retaliate for the death of its two members during a military operation in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao last May 23. The military claimed 17 other BIFF men, including BIFF leader Esmael Abdulmalik, alias Abu Turaife, were injured.
“It’s a diversionary tactic and at the same time to retaliate because we have two body count (recovered enemy bodies) and there are reported injured, including Turaife. They were hurt,” said Rosario.
