ZAMBOANGA CITY—The National Counter Terrorism Action Group (Nactag) chief, Arturo Lomibao, said the group is adopting “target-hardening” measures to prevent a repetition of the bombings that have hit this city.

In last week’s incident, two people were killed while 21 others were wounded when a cellular telephone-triggered bomb exploded shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday at the waiting area right across Gate 1 of the Col. Edwin Andrews Air Base.

The explosion also destroyed the offices of the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc., United States Assistance for International Development-funded Alliance of Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy  and the congressional district office of Laban Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco of Zamboanga City, housed in the building.

Lomibao, who visited the explosion site on Monday, said Nactag is identifying all potential targets for the implementation of security measures to prevent a repetition of such incident.

Lomibao, a former chief of the National Police, said he is satisfied with the manner local authorities are handling and investigating the incident, including the identification of the suspects.

The Western Mindanao police commander, Director Jaime Caringal, said several hours after the incident that the bomb that exploded had the signature of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Special Operations Team.

The MILF has denied involvement and claimed that the front is the government’s partner in seeking a peaceful solution to the problems in Mindanao.

Lomibao said investigators are eyeing the rouge members of the MILF as the ones responsible in the latest attack.

Mayor Celso Lobregat challenged the MILF to help government authorities in identifying the culprits.

“If the MILF is sincere, it should be helping out in pinpointing who the perpetrators are,” Lobregat said.

Vice Mayor Jose Manuel Dalipe II has reiterated his recommendation for the local government to install surveillance cameras in strategic areas, to include major intersections in this city.

State schools have enough tutors–Lapus

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus on Tuesday assured the public there are enough teachers for public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

THE Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (Creba) on Tuesday asked the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City to stop the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) from implementing the land-conversion ban and other “oppressive” rules “that go beyond its authority and violate the Constitution and other laws.”

SENATORS said they would not be stampeded into passing a Palace-certified urgent bill extending the government’s controversial agrarian-reform program, or CARP, which is due to expire this month.

FARMERS from Tineg, Abra, have asked President Arroyo to relieve Chief Supt. Eugene Martin as Cordillera police commander, for his alleged failure to solve a spate of killings in their town and for harassing Mayor Edwin Crisologo.

CANADA wants to follow the tack of the United States and other countries that have existing military agreements with the Philippines by engaging Filipino soldiers in war exercises.

THE joint House Committees on Government Enterprises and on Labor are expected to conclude the congressional inquiry into the controversial transfer of franchise and management of the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC) to Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco) before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13, with the recommendation of filing of charges in court against PNCC-Somco officials involved.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The National Counter Terrorism Action Group (Nactag) chief, Arturo Lomibao, said the group is adopting “target-hardening” measures to prevent a repetition of the bombings that have hit this city.