Zambo cops recover another landmine

MANILA - Another landmine was recovered along the highway of Baliguian town, Zamboanga del Norte, police said Tuesday.

Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, Zamboanga Peninsula regional police spokesman, said the landmine was recovered in Sitio Dawa, Barangay Upper Kauswagan, the same area where a cargo truck owned by town Mayor Gani Esmali hit a landmine on Monday morning.

Gucela said they also seized 2 gallons of ammonium nitrated mixed with kerosene, electric blasting caps and wires near the second landmine.

Meanwhile, Mayor Esmali clarified that he was not on board the cargo truck when it hit the landmine on Monday.

Hurt in the blast were Rommel Fernandez, 19; Rene Fernandez, 18; Anastacio Angalon, 32; Requeren Lumarang, 21; Leonardo Angalon, 42; and Albert Villarente, 39.

Esmali said the victims were his workers. He said the workers were on their way back to Baliguian town proper when the cargo truck hit the landmine.

The police and the mayor could not still identify the group responsible in the planting of the landmines.