Bomb scare hounds Caraga folk

BUTUAN CITY -- Millions of people in the Caraga region are now gripped by fear following the bombing of two buses in this city last Saturday.

Security has been tightened in all bus terminals, with commuters being told to line up for inspection before they are allowed to board any bus.

In many commercial establishments, security guards have been given bomb detectors to use in checking on customers.

Businessmen, however, have complained that the tense situation has begun to take its toll on their earnings.

The Caraga Association of Furniture Makers, for one, said its sales had gone down by as much as 75 percent since the region was hit by several bomb explosions.

"We will be suffering more if these atrocities will not end," said Boy Sodusta, head of the group.

Police and military authorities, however, gave assurances that the situation is still under control. They hinted that the region is shielded from Abu Sayyaf or Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels since it is predominantly occupied by Christians.

Army Col. Santiago Prejido, who heads the local military here, has aired suspicion that the recent bus bombings here could be the handiwork of the communist-led New People's Army.

His statement contradicted those earlier made by Caraga police chief Fritz Quinanola that Muslim insurgents were behind the attacks.

The Butuan City government already plans to form a crisis committee that will look into Saturday's blasts.

This city will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this May 18 and is inviting former residents from abroad to a homecoming feast.

The Caraga Regional Peace and Order Council said the latest bomb attacks were "isolated cases" and should not be a cause for alarm.

One of the blasts, which occurred in Sitio Dalipdipan in Barangay Taguibo here, killed two persons and wounded 18 others. It was caused by a homemade bomb that exploded inside an Ilema Express bus.

The second explosion in Surigao City killed five women and wounded 27 others. It was caused by a similar type of bomb planted inside a Land Car Inc. bus, owned by a company in Davao City.

A bomb discovered inside another bus in Surigao last Saturday afternoon was detonated by the police and was found stuffed inside an old-fashioned flat iron.