Philippine Navy seizes bomb ingredient, smuggled goods off Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Philippine patrol ships seized 164 bags of ammonium nitrate, an ingredient used by terrorists in the manufacture of improvised explosives, and smuggled cigarettes and fuel in separate operations off the southern province of Sulu.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao released photos of the operations that resulted in the seizure of ammonium nitrate, smuggled cigarettes and fuel off the southern Sulu province. 

The operations were mounted on January 13-14 but were only announced on Thursday for a still unknown reason.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao said patrol units from the Naval Task Force 61 intercepted M/L Somewhere-5 loaded with the banned chemical while heading to the island-town of Pangutaran. It said the illegal cargo, worth over P3 million allegedly came from Palawan province.

The Navy has not released the name of the boat's owner or whether any arrest was made but said the task force and members of the Bureau of Customs also intercepted two other motor launches transporting cigarettes, fuel, automatic rifle and a pistol.

It said M/B JFM was loaded with some 700 boxes of undocumented cigarettes worth P 14 million and during inspection, Navy personnel recovered one M653 automatic rifle and a .45-caliber pistol from the boat. It said the boat was heading to Palawan from Pangutaran.

"The vessel, M/B JFM also carried illegal firearms, including one M653 rifle and one .45 caliber pistol with accompanying ammunition, allegedly originating from the Municipality of Pangutaran Sulu and heading towards Palawan. However, due to engine trouble, the vessel returned to the municipality of Pangutaran and was then intercepted by the operatives somewhere in North Ubian (also in Pangutaran)," the Naval Forces Western Mindanao said.

The task force also intercepted M/L Fatima Daniya off Sulu's Basbas Island transporting some 100,000 liters of undocumented fuel worth about P6.5 million which allegedly originated from the town of Mapun in Tawi-Tawi province.

The names of the crew member and owners of M/B JFM and M/L Fatima Daniya were not made public by the Navy or the Bureau of Customs. But one photo released by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao shows 18 people, including a boy, being served coffee on a navy patrol.

Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, lauded the operations and "expressed satisfaction and pride, stating that the success of this operation underscores the professionalism and dedication of   Naval Forces Western Mindanao   in safeguarding the country's maritime boundaries and upholding the rule of law." (Mindanao Examiner)