Cotabato blast wound passenger, bus slightly damaged

A passenger was wounded when a bomb exploded along the road while a transit bus passed by in Kabacan town, North Cotabato yesterday.

Report reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City said that the bomb exploded about 6:55 a.m., while a Rural Transit bus passed by in Barangay Kalaka, Kabacan town.

Kabacan police chief Senior Supt. Joseph Semillano said the Rural Transit luckily did not sustain major damage.

“Isang pasahero lang ang nagkaroon ng minor injury samantalang ang bus naman ay halos gasgas lang ang damage,” Semillano said.

The explosion was the third in the province since July.

It can be recalled that the blast took place in front of the Commission on Audit office last July while an improvised explosive device exploded in front of the National Irrigation Administration office in Kidapawan City last August.

Initial investigation showed in yesterday’s explosion was targeted on the bus since it was timed to explode while it was about to arrive.

Local police investigators hinted that the Rural Transit bus was the target of explosion. Records show that this was the 5th explosion of the Rural Transit bus in Cotabato province.

The local police said that extortion is the most possible motive behind the blast.

Semillano added that there had been previous roadside bombings targeting the bus firm in Maguindanao province.

On the other hand, the local police are still gathering vital information to identify the group behind the incident.

Chief Supt. Felisimo Khu, Cotabato police chief, said the bus was on its way to Carmen town when the explosion occurred.

Investigation report said the bomb was left on the road and exploded when the Rural Transit bus passed by. It was said to be a cellphone-detonated IED, Khu added.

He said the explosions are meant to intimidate bus management. “They don’t want the bus to travel from Cagayan de Oro to Tacurong,” he said. –Gina Peralta-Elorde, Daily Tribune