Bomb found in Manila-bound bus in Surigao

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines - – Thanks to an alert passenger, an improvised explosive placed in a carton box was found in a Manila-bound bus at the Lipata wharf in Surigao City on Monday morning.

Experts who promptly defused the bomb said it could have killed scores of people.

The PP Bus Line unit had made a stopover in the wharf after arriving from Davao City when a female passenger saw a man place the box at the rear luggage compartment and then hastily left.

Passengers, who were taking their meals, panicked when they noticed heavy smoke coming from the luggage compartment. Bus driver Ruel Orquesta Panuncio took out the box and placed it within safe distance from the people until ordnance experts arrived.

Police were checking if the bomb was planted in connection with the road accident involving one of PP Bus Line’s units in Cabadbaran City last November which is still under negotiation, or an extortion attempt by lawless groups on the bus company.

The bus was to make stopovers in Southern Leyte and Samar before proceeding to Metro Manila.