COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/07 October) — Police seized materials for the assembly of two high-powered explosives, several firearms and ammunition during a dawn raid on Friday of a house of a businessman in Cotabato City.
Chief Inspector Allan Uy, spokesperson of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said they found rounds of 81mm mortar and rocket-propelled grenade, a detonating cord, hand held radio, improvised switch circuit, cellphone, blasting cap, and a plastic ice cream container in the house of Teng Macabalang in Rosary Height.
Uy said the plastic ice cream container indicated the bomb would have been assembled here.
Also seized were a carbine, .45 caliber colt pistol, two .22 rifles with scope and several ammunition for various firearms.
Uy said they raided the house after obtaining a search warrant from Judge Bansawan Ibrahim of Regional Trial Court Branch 12 based on an intelligence report.
Macabalang, already in his 60’s, did not resist arrest.
Uy said they still have to investigate where the bombs would have been used.
He said the explosives were ready for use as the components were already complete.
He added the discovery could lead to the identity of terror groups who might be planning to stage attacks.
“Malaking tulong ito kasi mostly ganitong mga bomba ginagamit sa pagpapasabog sa Central Mindanao. Titingnan natin yung participation sa ibang bombing (This will help a lot because these are the kinds of bombs used in Central Mindanao. We will look into their participation in other bombings),” he added.
Macabalang said it was not him but his son TJ Tagadaya Macabalang who was involved in alleged terrorism.
“I cannot control him anymore, he is no longer listening to my advice. I’ve heard he met and joined this group called ISIS not too long ago,” he said.
TJ is into sticker and tarpaulin printing and buy-and-sell of vehicles.
TJ and his worker named Wendell Factuan were abducted last October 4 by armed masked men while meeting a client for a motorcycle deal on Gov. Gutierrez Avenue in Cotabato City.
The family had no idea who abducted them as the armed men were using an SUV van without a plate number. No ransom demand has been sent.
In September last, TJ’s worker named Micky Imam Glang, 27, was abducted by armed men and was found dead 20 days after. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)
