Suspected car-bomb found negative in Pagadian City: Bomb-scared worsen in Southern Philippines

The EOD Team at the parking area of Gaisano

Mall inspected the suspected car-bomb.

(Photo by Frontliner)  

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY (August 9, 2013) – “Thank you God,” this is a prayer of all the people in Zamboanga Peninsula particularly in Pagadian City after the car was found negative of explosive device yesterday afternoon at the Parking Area of Pagadian Gaisano Mall Capital.

Yesterday, the personnel from Pagadian Gaisano Mall Capital informed the Police Operatives that they noticed a vehicle KIA Grand Sportage color dark gray bearing Plate # YDZ 822 that had already two days abandoned park at Gaisano Parking Area in Barangay San Pedro District, Pagadian City.

Immediately, the joint police operatives from the Pagadian City Police Station, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) Technical Support and Police Provincial Office headed by the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Director P/Senior Superintendent Thomas Ugbinar Abellar arrived and cordoned the area.

After thorough verification and investigation the car was reported parked and abandoned by the two unidentified persons, a man and woman at about more or less 2:00 pm the other day.

The non-appearance of the car owner until 1:30 pm yesterday had made the Police authorities suspicion that the abandoned vehicle might be a car-bomb that decided the police officials alerted the people in the area for their safety before going to conduct a water disruptor explosion to determine whether there is a presence of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) inside the car and later found negative.

With the coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) P/

SSupt. Abellar identified the name registered as owner of the said vehicle is Emma Evellana Tacason, a resident of Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte.

Police recovered inside KIA vehicle were 3 pieces of Official Receipts from Mega Home Fishing Supply, Jelyco Enterprises and Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative all address in Dipolog City.

The said vehicle obtained partially damage particularly the windshield due to the water disruptor explosion and was impounded at the PNP Provincial Headquarters at Camp Abelon for some verification from the owner why she abandoned the vehicle and for proper disposition.  

The bomb-scared was worsen due to the text messages scattered that a possible bombing attacked will be launched by the terrorist group in some cities in Southern Philippines including Pagadian City after the Ramadan celebration today.

   

The Police authorities made an appeal to the people in Pagadian City and in the province of Zamboanga del Sur to stay calm and be vigilant and help monitor and inform their police authorities immediately of any suspicious looking character even those armed persons wearing police and military uniforms for proper identification and any abandon vehicle or baggage from their respective places.

The request was done by PNP after the residents in Mindanao were alarmed and scared following bombing incidents last two week ago in Cagayan de Oro City that killed 8 people and left 9 dead and several others were wounded in Cotabato City on August 5, 2013.

Provincial Director P/SSupt. Abellar expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the public awareness as a response of their request, this was referred to the incident yesterday. “We cannot perform our duties and responsibilities against all forms of criminalities without the public supports,” Provincial Director Abellar explained.

City Mayor Romeo “Tata” Pulmones said that two days after the bombing incident in Cagayan de Oro City, Pagadian City officials together with the EOD Team conducted a bomb public awareness in the different Malls, Public Markets and Terminals through Councilor Ernesto Mondarte, Committee Chairman of Police and Public Safety in the City Council.

It was recalled, on May 24, 2013 in the afternoon a car-bomb was exploded in the same parking area but no one was reported hurt.   

The EOD Team at the parking area of Gaisano

Mall conducted the water disruptor explosion

to the suspected car-bomb. (Photo by Frontliner) 

The EOD Team at the parking area of Gaisano

Mall conducted the water disruptor explosion

to the suspected car-bomb. (Photo by Frontliner) 

The EOD Team at the parking area of Gaisano

Mall conducted the water disruptor explosion

to the suspected car-bomb. (Photo by Frontliner)