Mangudadatu convoy greeted by bomb blast

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – A powerful roadside bomb exploded along a highway traversing Barangay Kauran here just as a convoy of politicians led by gubernatorial candidate Ismael Mangudadatu was passing by en route to a nearby village for a daylong campaign sortie there.

Superintendent Alex Lineses, Maguindanao police director, said investigators are certain that the bomb was not meant to kill anyone in Mangudadatu’s group because it was planted about 10 meters away from the roadside.

“But the explosion was so strong and it triggered panic in the area,” Lineses said.

Mangudadatu is aspiring for governor of the politically troubled Maguindanao under the banner of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

Mangudadatu has asked the police and the military to investigate the bombing.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers have been dispatched to scour the area where the bomb went off to help the police gather more evidence. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe and Rose Tamayo-Tesoro