3 killed, 27 hurt in Zamboanga pension house explosion

(Updated 1:09 p.m.) Three people died while 27 were injured in an explosion at a pension house in Zamboanga City Sunday night. Police are looking into leads about the perpetrators behind the explosion as well as the motive for the attack, radio dzBB reported early Monday. According to Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, one of the fatalities was initially identified as Rowel Barcelona.   The other fatality is an unidentified female. The other one is still being identified. The report said the three fatalities were among those taken to a nearby hospital but it was too late for doctors to save them.   Three unidentified persons, meanwhile, were injured by shrapnel, said Khu.   Initial investigation showed the incident occurred at 9:25 p.m. at the two-storey Atilano Pension House on Mayor Jaldon Street in Brgy. Canelar, Zamboanga City. The explosion damaged the building's roof. Police suspect an improvised explosive device (IED) may have been used in the incident. A separate report published by Mindanao Examiner said the explosion triggered a fire. It added many of the injured were wedding guests who were billeted at the pension house. –KG, GMA News