Mindanao peace threatened

MANILA, Philippines - Violent incidents in Mindanao on Thursday threatened a fragile peace and order condition in the island. Maj. Armand Rico, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said a bus explosion, a separate land mine explosion and a fire fight between government troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) occurred in Digos, Davao del Sur; Makilala, North Cotabato; and Barangay Aleosan, also in North Cotabato, respectively. Chief Inspector Querubin Simeon Manalang, regional police spokesman, said initial reports indicated that Metro Shuttle Bus with body number 176 had just arrived from Bansalan, Davao del Sur bound for Davao City and was parked at the Digos Transport Terminal when the blast, attributed to extortion gang al Khobar, occurred. Bus aide Marian Apurado said the explosion appeared to have come from the left aisle in the middle portion of the vehicle. Authorities have yet to identify all the victims, some of whom were still inside the bus as of press time, as bomb squads scour the area. Four passengers were rushed to government-run Davao Medical Center after sustaining serious injuries, while the rest of the passengers and bus driver Alfonso Reboyon of Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, were brought to the provincial hospital in Digos City. Rudy Alag, operations manager of Metro Shuttle, said they received a phone call from a man who identified himself with al Khobar two or three days ago asking for protection money. Al Khobar is active in Central Mindanao. He said the group asked for an initial P500,000 and an additional P50,000 every month. He said his telephone operator received another call few minutes before the blast that warned their buses will be bombed. Digos City Mayor Arsenio A. Latasa said reports received by the local government unit on the number of injured and the identity of the bombers are still sketchy, but a portion of the terminal has been cordoned off so to preserve the crime scene. Mr. Latasa said he has sent personnel to provide financial assistance to the victims. "Because of what happened, the city is in full red alert," he told a local radio station here. Rebel attack Meanwhile, alleged New People’s Army elements broke into the Department of Labor and Employment compound in Makilala town at around 5:30 a.m. Thursday and burned equipment. They planted a land mine in the compound that killed a village official and wounded three responding policemen. Extortion was also eyed as possible motive, Mr. Rico said. As this developed, a fire fight ensued between Moro rebels and military troops in Aleosan. Mr. Rico said the clash was ongoing as of press time. — Joel B. Escovilla and Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez, BusinessWorld