Child in bus bombing dies in hospital

One of the seven passengers who suffered injuries from a bus bombing incident in Aleosan, Cotabato on Tuesday, passed away in a hospital in Cotabato City, the police said on Wednesday.

The police identified the fatality as Benjamin Solaiman from Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. He was only five years old.

The six other injured passengers were identified as Masid Piang, 25, and Yushra Solaiman, 3, from Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao; Haron Solaiman, 24, and Haron Solaiman Jr., 5 months old, from Kidapawan City; Rodolfo Castillo, 67, from Toril, Davao City; and Lester Alkane Bautista, 17, from Pikit, North Cotabato.

There were reportedly at least 20 passengers inside the bus when the bomb exploded.

According to initial investigation, the explosive used in the attack went off along the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Barangay San Mateo, Aleosan.

Investigators from the Aleosan Municipal police have theorized that the explosive was rigged underneath one of the seats in the bus. The explosion shattered the tinted glass windows at the rear end of the bus.

Police report also stated that the still unidentified suspect allegedly boarded the bus in Pikit, North Cotabato and alighted after around 30 minutes near Aleosan National High School.

All of the injured passengers were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.

Army and police bomb experts are still trying to determine the type of explosive used in the attack, but believe it to be an improvised explosive device.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco condemned the attack, describing it as an act of evil.

Meanwhile, BGen. Alexander Tagum, Police Regional Office 12 (PRO12) director, has directed all police units in the region to be on guard against peace saboteurs, especially terrorists targeting innocent civilians.

He created a special investigation task group, led by Col. Michael Lebanan of PRO12, to lead the investigation.

“The PRO12 strongly condemns the cowardly terrorist attack against the innocent commuters of Mindanao Star Bus. We hope for the fast recovery of the injured and be assured that those behind the bombing will face the full force of the law,” Tagum said.