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KIDAPAWAN CITY(MindaNews / 04 September) — Isulan mayor Marites Kapunan-Pallasigue dismissed as baseless allegations that those behind the twin deadly blasts that hit her town were state forces.
Pallasigue, in an interview over Kidapawan City-based radio station DXND, said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is more likely the group behind the series of bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province.
Five persons were killed and at least 40 others injured in two bomb explosions in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, five days apart — three killed and 30 injured on August 28 along the highway near stalls selling ukay-ukay (second hand items) and two teenagers killed and 10 others injured in an internet cafe on September 2.
The mayor said he was informed by 6th Infantry Division chief Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana that what happened in Isulan was “just a retaliation (of the BIFF) because they’re already overpowered and could not fight the Army.”
“The military won’t allow killing of children and innocent civilians,” the mayor said.
Pallasigue issued the statement after BIFF spokesman Abu Misry accused state forces of allegedly “masterminding” the so-called terror attacks in Mindanao.
“The BIFF has nothing to do with the bombings, instead, it’s the Army and other state forces,” said Misry in an interview over DXND.
No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the attacks. (Malu Cadelina-Manar / MindaNews)
