3 Tacurong folk hurt in explosion

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Three residents were injured in an explosion that ripped through a busy intersection in Tacurong City Wednesday night, just hours after a grenade blast rocked a residential area here which left a villager wounded.

The improvised explosive planted near a money transfer and remittance outlet at the Tacurong City proper went off just as Army bomb disposal operatives were trying to defuse another bomb found near a police precinct at the Rosary Heights area here.

Superintendent Junny Buenacosa, Tacurong City police chief, said three residents, Christian Cabangon, 36; James Salinda, 26; and Jessa Marcelo, 23, sustained shrapnel wounds.

Police were still clueless on who were behind the explosion. Tacurong City has repeatedly been rocked by bomb attacks in recent months, some blamed on extortion syndicates.