BOMBINGS in Mindanao appeared to have increased this year as the government has already recorded a total of 136 incidents during the first 10 months alone, according to a military report.

The report, which covered the month of January up to October 26, showed that 108 cases were perpetrated by lawless Moro groups, which include rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front and the bandit group Abu Sayyaf.

Most of the bombings were carried out in central and western Mindanao.

The report noted that nearly half of the 108 bombings were carried out through homemade bombs, whose purpose was to scare civilians.

“Out of the 108 bomb-related incidents, 51 explosions of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and other explosive materials had no reported damage or casualty, and are believed to be meant to scare off the civilian populace and gain stronger posture for the possible peace talks with the MILF,” the report said.

The same document said that out of the 108 cases, 37 incidents killed a total of 10 soldiers and 37 civilians. These also wounded 34 soldiers and 245 civilians.

In response to the number of attacks, the military activated the 15th Division Reconnaissance Company under the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, whose members are Special Forces and Scout Ranger troops who will be trained in counterterrorism operations by the United States.

The company will undertake counterterrorism operations in Sulu, Basilan and the Lanao provinces.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces Public Information Office chief, said interagency counterterrorism planning and operations centers will be put up in Zamboanga City, Davao City and Cotabato City.

Brawner said antiterrorism and intelligence units will be prepositioned in the three cities.

He said the military will also expand its units under the Special Operations Command in order to handle militia units and integrees in Basilan, Jolo, Iligan City and in Central Mindanao.

He said the military will also raise the reward money for the buying of dud ammunitions for 81-mm and 60-mm mortars in order to prevent lawless Moro groups from acquiring them and turning then into homemade bombs.

In the wake of the bombings, Brawner said the military undertook target-hardening and preemptive measures, which led to the successful recovery of 39 homemade bombs in public places.

In June this year, a bomb exploded in Sarangani, killing one person and wounding 31 others.

On July 5, another bomb went off at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City, killing four people and wounding 32 others.

Two days later, an explosion also rocked Jolo, Sulu, killing two civilians and wounding 36 others.