ZAMBOANGA CITY—Marine bomb disposal experts successfully detonated a homemade bomb on Thursday night in Lamitan City, Basilan.

The Basilan-based First Marine Brigade reported that the bomb was discovered by the residents shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday in front of the Acme building on Quezon Boulevard in downtown Lamitan City.

Personnel from the explosive ordnance demolition of Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 rushed to the vicinity of the building after the residents reported what they found to the Marine Assistance Center in downtown Lamitan.

The homemade bomb was made of a block of trinitrotoluene (TNT) with a blasting cap and attached to a cellular phone, which was used as the triggering device. The explosive was placed in a milk can that was packed inside a plastic sandbag covered with diapers.

Immediately, the EOD personnel destroyed the bomb by direct blasting after they cordoned off the area in coordination with Lamitan policemen.

Military and police authorities suspect that the bombing attempt is aimed at disrupting the ongoing Lamitan City Tourism Week although other motives are not discounted.

Lamitan celebrated a weeklong Tourism Week which started on September 22.

The celebration that lasted until the 27th was highlighted by a coastal cleanup drive dubbed as “scubasurero.”

“The well-coordinated efforts of the civilian populace, the police and the Marines in Lamitan is a testament to the vigilance of all stakeholders in resolving lawlessness in the area,” said the First Marine Brigade commander, Col. Rustico Guerrero.

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ZAMBOANGA CITY—Marine bomb disposal experts successfully detonated a homemade bomb on Thursday night in Lamitan City, Basilan.