Extortion angle eyed in Digos bus blast

Authorities said Thursday that extortion could be a reason behind the explosion inside a Weena bus in Digos, Davao del Sur on Wednesday. Reports said before the blast, a person reportedly called up Weena bus owner and demanded for a revolutionary tax, but the owner refused to give money. Seventeen people were injured in the explosion inside the Digos Terminal II at around 11:30 a.m., Wednesday. Authorities rushed the victims to the Digos Doctors Hospital. Witnesses said there were only a few passengers on board when the explosion occurred. The driver said he saw two suspicious men board the bus, who may have planted the explosives. Meanwhile, police officers said they are looking at a possibility that the New People’s Army, who celebrated 37th founding Anniversary on March 29, planted the improvised bomb after the bus owner refused to give money. On Monday, a cooperative store in Jolo, Sulu was bombed, killing nine shoppers and injured 24 others. Reports alleged that the store was targeted because it was operated by a group of Roman Catholic priests who also run the city’s cathedral. Reports also said that before the blast, somebody called up the cooperative store manager, demanding for a revolutionary tax. However, the cooperative management reportedly turned down the demand. The Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist terror group linked to Al-Qaeda terror network, and even NPA have been allegedly blamed by the residents of Sulu for the bombing. –GMANews.TV