2 dead, 18 injured in bus bombing in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – An explosion ripped through a bus in Carmen, North Cotabato yesterday morning, killing two passengers and injuring 18 others, including minors, authorities said.

Army and police intelligence sources said the bombing was the handiwork of the notorious Al-Khobar extortion syndicate.

The fatalities, 10-year-old Gladzin Himpiso and 18-year-old Rona Mae Causing, died from shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies.

The two were among dozens of passengers onboard the Bukidnon-bound Rural Transit bus when an improvised explosive planted in the undercarriage luggage compartment went off.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, North Cotabato police director, said the slain passengers were seated just above the luggage compartment where the bomb, fashioned from a live mortar projectile rigged with a battery-operated blasting mechanism attached to a mobile phone, went off.

The injured passengers were identified as Guiariah Danggo, Marvin Marvicnal, Basilisa Aninipot, Sonny Balanag, Leo Limsiano, Alvin Diaz, Lovina Ayco, Lea Faviona, Analyn Suyco, Demia Causing, Hara Janine Cosca, Allan Himpiso Sr., Allan Himpiso Jr., Judy Ann Sumaylon, Ezleta Luneza, Rosa de la Garbo, Alberto Isidro, and Jenny Bergonia.

Lt. Col. Benjie Hao, commanding officer of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Carmen and surrounding towns, said the bombing “bore the signature” of the Al-Khobar gang, which has been preying on bus companies for “protection money” in the past four years.– With Jaime Laude