Bato: IED found near US Embassy possibly connected to Maute group

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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa on Monday said the improvised explosive device (IED) found near the United States Embassy in Manila may be connected to the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur who occupied the abandoned town hall of Butig and several other buildings and houses in the town since last week.

In a press briefing at the Manila Police District headquarters, Dela Rosa said the signature IED found in a trash bin a few meters away from the US Embassy was similar to the Maute group.

Calling the incident an attempted act of terrorism, Dela Rosa said the bomb scare along Roxas Boulevard can be the Maute group’s “diversionary tactic.”

“Pwede nating i-theorize na pwede nila itong pang-diversion (We could theorize that they could use this as a diversion)… Design, composition, and the way it is connected, ‘yung ang ibig sabihin ng the same signature,” Dela Rosa said.

As of Monday morning, at least 13 soldiers have been wounded in the continuing military operations against the Maute group in Lanao del Sur. Government security forces continued with ground and air assaults against some 300 members of the group, while the military continued to fire 105 howitzers on their known lairs.

READ: Firefight erupts between gov’t troops, Maute group in Lanao Sur

The PNP also confirmed earlier reports of the Manila police that the IED found near the embassy was similar to the one used in the September bombing of a night market in Davao City. Police said someone threw the package from a taxi around 2 a.m. before it was found by a street sweeper around 6 a.m.

READ: IED found in US Embassy same used in Davao blast—NCRPO

Dela Rosa also mulled to revive police checkpoints across the country, after they were ordered dismantled by President Rodrigo Duterte himself last month.

“We will ask mall authorities to also heighten security. We may revive checkpoints,” he said, adding that the PNP is on “double full alert.”

He also allayed fears that the incident will be used by the government to impose martial law.

“For God’s sake, the government will not use an incident that will cause panic, fear, and undue harm to declare martial law,” Dela Rosa said. “We won’t use our own people just to cause trouble… Huwag kayong mag-panic. Relax lang tayo (Don’t panic. Just relax)… PNP is on top of the situation.” RAM