7 hurt as twin blasts rock Tacurong City

TACURONG CITY — Seven people, most of them government security personnel, were hurt after two explosions rocked this southern Philippine city on Monday evening, police said.

Citing reports from the field, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office chief Senior Superintendent Raul Supiter said the first explosion took place at 6:40 p.m. on the rooftop of Dragon Gas Station along National Highway in Barangay Isabela.

Minutes later, or at 7:10 p.m., another explosion occurred, this time at the gas station's compound.

Two soldiers and three policemen who responded to the first explosion were hurt in the incident. Apart from them, two civilians were also injured.

Supiter identified those injured as:

• SSgt. Ipil Presaldo
• SSgt. Menzo Salsalito Manoy
• SPO2 Jasper Garcia
• P01 Martin San Pedro
• P01 Eleazar Sustiguer
• Bobong Bamo
• a certain Michael Pon

Sr. Supt. Raul Supiter said two suspects were immediately arrested by the authorities.

A hand grenade was seized from the two.

Reports that one of the suspects was a son of the late suspected bomb maker Basit Usman have yet to be confirmed.

Usman was killed two years ago.

Police said the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF) had earlier threatened to conduct bombing activities in Tacurong City as well as in Koronadal and Kidapawan cities.

Investigation was ongoing regarding Monday night's twin explosions in this city, Supiter said. —Ferdinandh Cabrera/KBK, GMA News