By Edwin G. Espejo
This article first appeared in Sun.Star Gensan (defunct) in 2007
A SHORT REIGN of peace and relative tranquility was broken with a devastating bomb attack Wednesday night last week which left six people dead and at least 23 others wounded.
Before that explosion, the city was spared by terrorist attacks for twenty three long and welcomed months.
For a while, residents here, local businessmen and prospective investors were beginning to believe that the city would finally take off. After all, for the whole of 2006, there have been no recorded violent terrorist attacks against civilian targets in the city, the first full year since 2000 in spite of numerous explosions throughout Mindanao .
But last week’s violent explosion dashed all that hopes.
One wonders now why the city has become a favorite target of terrorist groups.
15th bomb explosion
The bomb explosion in front of a lotto outlet last week was the 15th blast to hit the city since May of 2000.
Although by far not the most violent one, it nevertheless reinforced the perception that General Santos, from being the boom city in the mid-1990’s, is fast becoming the most bombed city.
It all started in May 2000 when three bombs exploded within minutes from each other at the city hall premises and at the city fish port complex. A tricycle driver was killed while several others were wounded.
Then city mayor Adelbert Antonino, a close ally of deposed president Joseph Estrada, immediately blamed extremists for the attacks.
Though still unsubstantiated, many believed those attacks were related to the all-out war ordered by Estrada against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
By that time, an all-out military offensive was then underway to capture the Muslim rebel stronghold in Camp Abu Bakar, a complex of MILF camps in Maguindanao.
Barely a month later, six explosions again rocked the city within minutes from each other targeting Gensan’s central business district.
Although no one was killed, these explosions signaled a new phase of terror drive throughout Mindanao.
Police and military authorities then blamed the MILF for the attacks saying these were part the test mission new MILF recruits.
This accusation was vehemently denied by the MILF.
Incidentally, it was about this time when the then little known Indonesian-based clandestine group Jemaah Islamiyah repeatedly appeared in the briefing papers in the country’s intelligence community.
Also in 2000, unidentified armed men fired rocket propelled grenades at an oil depot owned by Petron Corp. in Barangay Tambler. Although it did not cause major damage, the attack appeared to be part of the reign of terror then gripping the city.
In November of the same year, some 80 fully armed men believed to be members of the MILF launched a daring raid at the General Santos City Rehabilitation Center and in the process sprang out former MILF member and suspected kidnapper Alonto Tahir and some of his followers.
In the middle of 2001, Abu Sayyaf leader Kumander Global was captured in barangay Labangal after a failed attack at Pearl Farm in Islang Garden City of Samal.
Earlier, a homemade bomb exploded at the baggage counter, just outside Kimball Plaza . The Abu Sayyaf Group, claimed responsibility over the blast.
These were the first signs that the Abu Sayyaf had already established their presence in the city. Prior to that, a man claiming to be a certain Abu Muslim began sending extortion letters and making anonymous call to several radio stations.
Between end of March and early April in 2002, two shopping malls in the city were razed to the ground.
Police said these twin blazes were caused by faulty wirings but Abu Muslim claimed responsibility over the fires.
Barely three weeks later, on April 21, a violent explosion shattered a lazy Sunday afternoon in front of Fitmart Department Store.
Sixteen people were killed and more than 50 others were wounded leaving behind a traumatic scar for the rest of their lives.
A few minutes later, another bomb exploded at the outskirt of the city apparently thrown out of from a fleeing passenger vehicle believed to have carried the suspects in the Fitmart blast.
The Fitmart attack was owned by Abu Sayyaf, whose self-confessed special operations group leader Noor Mohammad Umug was later captured by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Cotabato City .
These were followed by the seizure of 1.1 tons of explosive materials and 17 M-16 Armalite rifles in barangay Labangal in the middle of the year.
The seized explosives and high-powered rifles, police later revealed, were owned by Indonesian Fathur Al Ghozie, suspected to be a high-ranking member of the Jemaah Islamiyah.
In December 2004, a powerful bomb went off at the meat section inside the public market. Fifteen people, including a pregnant woman perished in yet another bomb attack in the city. More than 60 others were wounded in the explosion.
No one has claimed responsibility over the attack although military and police intelligence sources said it was the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah.
Two months later, another blast rocked the city in what is now referred to as the Valentine’s Day bombing attack.
The government, this time, blamed the Abu Sayyaf and the JI for the series of explosions that hit Manila , Davao and General Santos City.
In the Gaisano bomb explosion during the series of attacks, a Dolefil worker was killed and several others were wounded.
Then, on January 10, the bomb explosion in front of the lotto outlet.
