6 hurt in Cotabato bus bombing
ABOMB explosion on Tuesday ripped through a provincial bus wounding at least six passengers, including an infant, in the municipality of Aleosan in the province of Cotabato.
According to a police report, the explosion occurred around 8 a.m. while the bus, operated by the Mindanao Star, was traversing the highway near the village of
San Mateo.
The wounded were identified as Rodolfo Castillo, 67; Masin Piang, 25; Hairon Solaiman, 24; Benjamin Solaiman, 5; Yushna Solaiman, 3; and Hairon Solaiman, 5 months old.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but several rebel and terrorist groups are actively operating in the province and neighboring areas.
The attack took place ahead of the May 2022 elections.
Bomb disrupted in Sultan Kudarat
Meanwhile, the police prevented an improvised bomb from detonating in Sultan Kudarat on Saturday.
Police disrupted an improvised explosive discovered by villagers at a riverbank in Sultan Kudarat, officials said.
Officials said members of the Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and K9 Unit recovered an anti-personnel claymore mine, one electric blasting cap, and different sizes of metals after disrupting the explosive.
Col. Tom Tuzon, provincial police chief, lauded the efforts and cooperation of the citizens in reporting the presence of explosives in the village of Tinumigues in Lambayong town. He said civilians phoned the municipal police office on January 8 to say that a suspicious sack was abandoned at the bank of Allah River.
Tuzon said police forces led by Maj. Jenahmeel Toñacao rushed to the area and immediately informed the Provincial EOD about the explosive which was carefully disrupted.
“All recovered pieces of evidence were brought by the Sultan Kudarat EOD office for technical identification and proper disposition, while continuous in-depth investigation and intelligence monitoring were conducted to determine the identities of the suspects and their motives,” Tuzon said.
“We encourage everyone to immediately report suspicious personalities and activities observed in your areas to prevent crimes. Let us work together for a more peaceful and safer Sultan Kudarat province,” he added.