Another blast targets Cotabato trader

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – An improvised explosive went off Saturday night in a security agency here owned by a businessman whose gun store was targeted in another bombing four days earlier.

Witnesses said they saw two men leave a box at the gate of the Savior Weapons and Tactics Security Agency about three to five minutes before the explosion.

The private security firm is operated by businessman Jesus Martinez, who also owns the Cotabato Weapons and Tactics Gun Store along Parang Road here.

A passerby was killed while nine others were wounded when an improvised explosive rigged in a motorcycle went off in front of the gun store.

Investigators said bomb placed underneath the motorcycle’s seat was detonated from a distance using a cellular phone.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Badian, city police chief, said no one was reported killed or hurt in the latest bombing.

“We now have very strong reason to believe that the bombers have a personal motive in perpetrating these two bombings that happened in just five days,” Badian said.