Dozens wounded in town fiesta bombing in Sultan Kudarat

A BOMB BLAST through a crowd at a festival in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding dozens more in the second deadly attack in under a month in the region, authorities said.

The powerful bomb in the town of Isulan in the province of Sultan Kudarat went off near a night market that was part of local celebrations, sending people running in terror.

“It was loud, we immediately left the area but I can’t forget the images of a young girl carried by her father, her shirt covered in blood,” said witness Judy Sapto, an area resident.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, is the latest violence in the south of the majority Christian archipelago, where Islamist militants have been fighting a decadeslong insurgency.

“It’s obvious that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) with links to ISIS (Islamic State) has the strongest desire to initiate these kind of attacks,” said Army Captain Arvin Encinas.

The local mayor’s office said two other bombs were discovered in the area and defused by authorities.

At least two, one of the casualties a child, were killed as of this reporting, and at least 36 were hurt in the blast, officials said.

Local police officials said the bomb went off near a petrol station as Isulan was celebrating the 61st anniversary of its founding.

The attack comes less than a month after a van bomb ripped through a military checkpoint on the neighboring island of Basilan, killing 10 people.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for that bombing and authorities believe the man behind the wheel of the explosives-laden van may have intended to target a nearby children’s parade.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte extended martial law in the southern Philippines until the end of this year, after pro-IS militants seized the southern city of Marawi last year.

Malacañang said on Wednesday it is open to extending martial law in Mindanao following the bombing incident.

“It’s an option but nandiyan ‘yun (it’s just there). We’re trying to make it as easy as possible... But kung ganito pa rin ang nangyari, anong gagawin natin? Upo lang tayo diyan?” Executive Secretary Salvador S. Medialdea told reporters at the House of Representatives. (But if this is still what’s happening, what will we do? Just sit there?)

He also said in part: “Piyesta, pasasabugan lang (They just bombed a fiesta). How would you feel?”

For her part, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said: “We follow the decision of the OP (Office of the President), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and the PNP (Philippine National Police) because they are better informed by the intelligence units on the need to extend martial law in Mindanao.” — with reports by