Wednesday, September 12, 2007

WesMinCom shrugs off claim linking MIG agent as mastermind in Plaza Pershing blast

The Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) has dismissed claim that a military intelligence agent masterminded the August 21 bombing of Plaza Pershing that injured at least 14 people.

Police authorities had earlier reported that the man who provided the improvised explosive device to the bombers is an agent of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG-9) who has standing warrant of arrest for 8 cases.


However, Sr. Supt. Manuel Barcena, city police chief, said the involvement of a military agent in the bombing does not mean it was sanctioned by the military. He said the report was based from three suspected bombers who were arrested last week.


Dismissing the report, WesMinCom said that attributing the terrorist action here in Mindanao to the soldiers who are sacrificing their lives to prevent the very terror that the terrorist would like to perpetrate is unfair.


"Such schemes are undeniably the work of the ASG/JI who are unjustly implicating our forces in their dastardly acts in order to disrupt the momentum that we have recently gained in our war against terror," said Air Force Capt. Rommel Miguel, WesMinCom acting public information officer.


Miguel said that Marine Major General Nelson Allaga, WesMinCom chief, is completely committed to the initiatives of the police authorities in bringing the perpetrators of the Plaza Pershing bombing to justice.


The WesMinCom chief has the firm resolve not to tolerate any acts by his officers and men that will tarnish the good image of the Command and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here in Mindanao, according to him.


He furthered: "The WesMinCom, AFP and its operationally controlled units denounce all terrorist acts that continue to endanger the lives of our innocent citizens. We have been in the forefront in the War Against Terror in Western Mindanao and our units have achieved significant milestones in neutralizing the leaders of the ASG/JI as well as preventing many of their followers from spilling-over to the urban areas."


"Majority of our combat operations are intelligence driven hence, we are able to conduct precise and decisive actions against the terrorists. Our intelligence driven combat operations have recently gained positive results especially in tracking down the leaders and remnants of the ASG/JI in as far as Palawan and bringing them to face justice here in Mindanao. Our series of successes have recently disrupted the terrorists' plans."


Last Tuesday, the city government has offered a P200,000 reward for the arrest of the mastermind in the bomb explosion. It said the reward will be given to anyone who gives information leading to the arrest of Amping.

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