HEIGHTENED ALERT. Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar examines bomb parts seized by government forces from a suspected bomber in Zamboanga City on Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2021). The mayor on Friday (Dec. 24, 2021) raised the alert level against terrorism across the city as the Christmas celebration reaches its peak this week. (Photo courtesy of Zamboanga CIO) ZAMBOANGA CITY - As the frenzy of Christmas celebrations reached its peak this week, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar raised on Friday the city's level of alertness against terrorism. This developed as the state security forces thwarted what could have been a devastating bomb explosion following the confiscation Wednesday night of an improvised explosive device (IED) ready for detonation, and the arrest of the suspected bomber in Barangay Kasanyangan here. The main charge of the IED is a 90-mm high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition. Security forces also seized bomb-making components consisting of a detonating cord, a nine
FOILED BOMBING. State forces foil a bombing plan of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as they arrested a man suspected to have ties with the terror group and seized an improvised explosive device (IED) Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2021) in Barangay Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City. A member of the explosive ordnance disposal team (right) examines the IED at the residence of suspect Tony Asmun who has alleged links with the Basilan-based terrorists. (Photo courtesy of Zamboanga CIO) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government security forces have foiled a bomb attack this yuletide season as they arrested a man suspected to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and seized an improvised bomb Wednesday night in this city. Brig. Gen. Franco Simborio, Police Regional Office - Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, on Thursday identified the arrested suspect as Tony Asmun, 57, of Hanapi Drive, Barangay Kasanyangan here Simborio said Asmun was arrested when joint police and military operatives, armed with a search warrant, rai
Rains ushered in the start of the Christmas season in Zamboanga City through the traditional switch-on ceremony of the Zamboanga City Hall Thursday, December 2. The Zamboanga City Hall was glowing with thousands of fairy lights, fashioned into snowflakes in a display aptly titled “Winter Wonderland