Basilan blast, foiled bombing prompt higher Coast Guard vigilance at ports

A bomb explosion in a lodging house and the recovery of an improvised explosive in Basilan province in southern Philippines during the weekend had prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to tighten security in Mindanao ports. PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo on Sunday said he has also ordered heightened vigilance by his units in major ports and tourist areas nationwide especially in preparation for the expected Holy Week exodus. “Directive ko sa Coast Guard, lalo paigtingin ang vigilance, security at preparedness lalo sa major ports at tourist areas (My directive to Coast Guard units is to heighten vigilance, security and preparedness especially in major ports and tourist areas)," Tamayo said on government-run dzRB radio. He said added K-9 units have been deployed to major ports to detect explosives, along with drugs and other contraband. “Lahat yan may PCG nagpapatrolya (All ports will have Coast Guard patrols)." On Saturday evening, an explosion hit a lodging house in Lamitan City in Basilan. Authorities are still looking into whether the explosive was improvised. Initial investigation revealed that two suspicious male individuals checked in at the lodging house at around 6:30 p.m. Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said no casualty was reported in the explosion although the affected lodging house reportedly collapsed. “Baka after sumabog ay dahan-dahang nag-totally collapse yong house kaya nakatakbo ang mga tao sa loob (Perhaps the boarding house collapsed slowly after the explosion, and the people inside had time to flee the area)," he said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but Cabangbang said police are currently investigating the bombing. “The [Philippine National Police] will still talk with the owner who might shed some light on the incident," he said. Minutes after the explosion, an improvised bomb was found near a hotel in Isabela City, also in Basilan. Basilan is a known bailiwick of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, which is known to carry out bombing attacks on civilian targets. - KBK, GMA News