Two suspected MILF members arrested after twin bomb blasts

Two suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members have been arrested today after twin bombings in Mindanao left more than a dozen people injured.

Chief Superintendent Raul Supiter, director of Sultan Kudarat Provincial Office, said the first explosion took place yesterday (Monday, April 17) at 6.40pm on the rooftop of a gas station along the national highway in Barangay Isabela, Tacurong City.

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Ph locator sultan kudarat tacurong
The site of yesterday’s twin bomb attack

Another blast went off just half an hour later in the compound of the gas station, wounding three soldiers and three policemen.

According to Ch. Supt. Supiter, security personnel were responding to the first blast when the second improvised explosive device detonated just few metres away.

The explosions also left nine civilians wounded.

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The two suspected MILF members arrested have been identified as Juhari Gani and Waren Ganiho.

Ch. Supt. Supiter said the two confessed to being members of the MILF. “There are photo galleries in their mobile phones showing that they are members of the MILF,” the Philstar quoted him as saying.

The police official said they will notify the joint government-MILF cease-fire committee of the arrest of the suspects.

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Under the July 1997 Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, the government and the MILF are obliged to cooperate in addressing security concerns in conflict and flashpoint areas.

The MILF has been talking peace with President Duterte with the promise of a new Bangsamoro government unit to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.