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March 3, 2000, The Philippine Star, Brains of ferry blast named, by Lino De La Cruz,

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MILF

March 3, 2000, The Philippine Star, Brains of ferry blast named, by Lino De La Cruz,

ILIGAN CITY - The military has identified the brother and relatives of a missing Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander as the brains behind the Feb. 25 bombing of buses aboard a ferry boat in Ozamis City where at least 39 people were killed and scores were wounded and missing.

Brig. Gen. Roy Cimatu, chief of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division, told reporters that the bombing was the handiwork of members of the family of MILF commander Gampong Tomarompong, who were out to avenge the disappearance of Gampong who is now presumed dead.

Cimatu identified the suspects as Munib Tomarompong, brother of Gampong, Karaote Dimatan, Galid Tomarompong, (another brother), Kebo Toper, Camcuan Gani and two others identified only as a certain Dimla and Luanda. All are believed to be MILF members.

A military operation will be conducted immediately if the suspects fight the policemen who will serve the warrants of arrest, according to Cimatu.

The suspects are also wanted for the burning of a Super 5 bus last Jan. 26 and the kidnapping of the driver and bus conductor who were later released without ransom, Cimatu added.

The group bombed the two Super 5 buses aboard the ferry boat MV Our Lady of Mediatrix because they believed company officials are responsible for their brother's disappearance, Cimatu further said.

Super 5 officials refused to give any statement but initial investigations showed that the bus company had refused to give protection money to the rebel group.

Meanwhile, the military warned that the suspects might stage more bombing attacks, as it deployed armored personnel carriers in strategic places here and near the oil depots of Petron and Shell companies.

The PNP here is on double red alert and has deployed policemen at the bus terminals who are conducting "Operation Kapkap" or (Operation Frisking) of suspicious persons for any concealed weapon or explosives, according to PNP city director Rogelio Nuneza.

Meanwhile, at least two extremist rebels were killed in a more than an hour sea gun battle with Army men along the coastal waters of Basilan province Wednesday morning.

Reports reaching the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) yesterday said that the Abu Sayyaf rebels were caught extorting money from fishermen in the open seas by elements of the 10th Infantry Battalion backed by paramilitary forces.

Maj. Salih Indanan, Southcom spokesman, said that after the exchange of gunfire the soldiers recovered two cadavers and high powered firearms aboard one of the pumpboats that was left behind by withdrawing rebels.

Indanan said that newly installed Southcom chief Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva has directed all military units in Mindanao to flash out rebel forces in their respective area of responsibility. - With Alvin Tarroza

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