Cotabato City offers P500k-reward for arrest of mall bombing suspects
MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Cotabato City on Saturday said it offered a hefty reward for the capture of suspects behind a deadly bombing outside a shopping mall in the southern city.
According to reports, the suspects have a P500,000 bounty on their heads.
A female street vendor and one man were killed, while many of the wounded were shoppers buying goods for traditional New Year festivities.
Scattered debris including items sold for New Year celebrations such as horns made from cardboard and plastic, gifts and a bloody slipper lay at the mall's entrance where the bombing took place.
Authorities said the bomb had the signature of a "Daesh group", referring to local Islamist extremists who have declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.
The latest bombing comes as the southern Philippines prepares for a plebiscite in January for the creation of a Muslim autonomous area as part of an effort to end the separatist insurgency.
Many of the IS-linked groups have openly rejected these peace efforts. — with AFP
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