Batangas governor hurt in vehicle blast, 2 men killed

The vehicle of Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez blew up shortly after he boarded it, killing two of his men and injuring the official, GMA-7 newscast “24 Oras" reported Thursday evening. Sanchez' lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, told “24 Oras" anchor Mike Enriquez that Sanchez was hurt but in stable condition. Topacio narrated that the governor had just left a meeting at the provincial capitol in Batangas City before 7 p.m. and went to board his barely six-month-old Hummer H2 sport utility vehicle. The vehicle started to emit smoke after the engine was started and his bodyguards were able to get him out in time. Sanchez’ driver, Louie Icaro, and a bodybuard, Eric Icaro, also the driver's cousin, were killed in the blast that followed. Sanchez suffered second-degree burns and is being treated at the Nazareth hospital in Batangas. The cause of the blast is still being investigated.-GMANews.TV