M’lang bombing update ANOTHER WOUNDED VICTIM DIES; FIVE BIFF RECRUITS EYED IN BLAST

By Manny Pinol

Another victim in the Dec. 31 bombing in M’lang succumbed to her wounds yesterday at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital, Mayor Joselito Pinol reported.

Zenaida Suelo, 48, of Barangay Malayan, M’lang became the second fatality in the bloody New Year’s Eve bombing in the town’s busy public market which also injured 34 other civilians.

The bomb, an improvised explosive device (IED) which was rigged with nails and shoe tacks, exploded in the public market as residents of the town made a last minute marketing for the New Year’s celebration.

A bakery helper and mother of three young children, Kristine Sol Salo, 28, of Barangay Bialong, died on the spot.

Her employer, Herman Sorongon, Jr., said Salo asked him in the morning of the fateful day that she be allowed to render overtime and help sell bread so she could earn extra money for New Year.

Two more victims, Candida Pante and Marilyn Salo, remained in critical condition in the Intensive Care Units of the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and the CPH, respectively.

Pante, who was brought to Davao City through the help of Mayor Rody Duterte, lost both her legs after doctors amputated the badly mangled legs.

Meanwhile, Mayor Pinol said one of the bombing victims had a good look at the suspect of attempted to leave a bag in the place where she was selling her wares.

The witness, whose identity is being withheld, told Mayor Pinol that she even argued with the suspect as she stopped him from leaving behind the bag.

The suspect moved to another stall and left the bag believed to contain the bomb. Minutes later, the bomb exploded killing Salo on the spot.

The witness who argued with the bombing suspect suffered injuries but survived the blast.

Mayor Pinol said the bombing happened after one of the suspects in the Nov. 23 bombing also in the town which killed three youngsters was arrested by regional police operatives.

The mayor, who cut short his Christmas break with his family, said initial investigation showed that the suspects are believed to be new recruits of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The five new BIFF recruits are also believed to be members of the extortion group Al Khobar which earlier sent extortion letters to M’lang businessmen.

The bombers are also believed to be products of a bomb-making school handled by Indonesian bomb makers who used to operate under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Investigators are now establishing the identities of the five new BIFF recruits.

Mayor Pinol said a K-9 team was actually in the public market when the bombing happened but since the place was full of last minute shoppers, the team was not able to cover the area where the explosion occurred.

(Photo credit: Photo of the bombed public market was downloaded from the Facebook page of Zshariepha N. Ebrahim posted in Taga Mlang Takon group.)