Cotabato New Year’s Eve blast death toll rises to 2

The death toll from a New Year's Eve explosion at the public market in Mlang town in Cotabato rose to two as of Thursday.

 

A report on GMA's Saksi said the second victim died while undergoing treatment, even as the first had been killed on the spot after being hit by shrapnel.

 

Initial investigation indicated an improvised explosive device (IED) was involved in the blast.

 

Police have taken into custody at least one person who they suspect may have been involved in the blast.

 

The person, who was not named, is also being probed for a similar explosion in Mlang last November.

32 wounded

 

Meanwhile, Cotabato provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta told dzBB radio early Friday the incident wounded at least 32. Sixteen of them are still hospitalized.

Tinatayang 34 ang naging biktima sa pagsabog sa M'lang; 2 ang patay, 32 ang sugatan (16 pa ang nagpapagaling sa ospital). – Cotabato police

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 1, 2015

 

But Peralta would not comment on earlier reports suggesting the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, could be involved.

 

"I could not mention on that group," he said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News