10 killed, 30 others hurt in Cotabato bus explosion

UPDATED 5 p.m. — An explosion that ripped through a passenger bus in North Cotabato on Thursday killed at least 10 people and injured 30 others, many of whom are in serious condition due to severe head wounds. In an interview on radio dzBB, Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command, said the blast happened inside a Rural Transit deluxe bus (with body number: 2284) in Dalapitan village, Matalam town, North Cotabato. The initial investigation showed that the bus, which came from Cagayan de Oro City, was carrying about 60 passengers. Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the bus was on its way to Tacurong City from Cagayan de Oro City when it exploded at the vicinity of Dalapitan village around 10:30 a.m. Hao said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.

An improvised explosive device went off inside a bus with 60 passengers in North Cotabato Thursday morning, killing 10 people and injuring 30 others. Cotabato PNP

Eight people, including bus conductor Brian Galagas, died on the spot, while another person was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. The 10th fatality died while being treated. The wounded individuals are currently being treated at the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital at the Amas Complex in Kidapawan City, and other hospitals in Matalam, Kabacan, and M'lang towns, all in North Cotabato. Military and police have yet to establish the identity of those responsible for the bombing of the bus of Rural Transit, whose other buses have been subjected to similar attacks in the past. “We do not have yet a suspect. We are still determining the bomb mix," said Cabangbang, adding however that the Alcobar extortion group had been the traditional suspect in past bombings of passenger vehicles in the province. He said the bus was in transit when the explosion occurred. "It has left the terminal when the bomb exploded at the overhead compartment...It was near the terminal on the way to Tacurong from Cagayan de Oro," said Cabangbang. Cabangbang said they are still determining who the perpetrators were but added the bus company had been plagued with similar attacks in the past as part of alleged extortion attempts. "Historically, ang Rural Bus ay binobomba ng extortion group na Al Khobar (Historically, Rural Bus has been bombed by the extortion group Al Khobar)," Cabangbang said. Authorities are already checking if the Al Khobar group has a standing extortion demand on the bus firm. Three passengers Meanwhile, Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas said they are already trying to find out the identity of at least three men who boarded the bus at the Kabacan terminal and disembarked along the highway in Matalam shortly before the blast. Salinas said the explosive device was placed inside a bag that was placed on the right side of the overhead compartment at the rear part of the bus. "Pataas iyong explosion, particularly sa may third seat from the rear portion, kaya basag yung bubong ng bus (The force of the blas was upward, particularly in the third seat from the rear portion that's why the roof of the bus was damaged)," he added. Members of the local police's explosives ordnance division have yet to reconstruct the fragments recovered from the scene to determine the make of the explosive device. Salinas said they were "not discounting the possibility" that the incident could have been an act of terroism. The notorious Al Khobar group was blamed for the spate of bomb explosions that had rocked several provinces in southern and central Mindanao since 2006. The extortion group, composed of former Moro rebels, was said to be previously linked to the Abu Sayyaf group, earlier reports said. Some of the victims identified A nurse at the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital identified three of the injured victims as:

Guinaid Isadam of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat;

Abson Camino, of Pikit, North Cotabato;

and Noraida Daud, of Pikit, North Cotabato. Chief Superintendent Gil Meneses, regional police director, also identified the other wounded victims as:

Norlila Aquinod, 20;

Julius Pasigua;

Lita Manzano, 57;

Jovencio Estrada, 37;

Rosel Fajardo, 26;

Florly Pecion;

Alex Mosquera, and

Christian Alabado, 19. –with Malu Cadelina Manar/VVP, GMANews.TV