Extortion gang seen behind South Cotabato bus bombing

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines - Probers are convinced an extortion syndicate was behind Thursday’s bombing of a bus in Polomolok town in South Cotabato that hurt 18 passengers, among them children.

The management of the Yellow Bus Company had confirmed having received a phone call from someone who had threatened to bomb one its buses if it refuses to shell out protection money.

Sources from the South Cotabato provincial police said the anonymous caller introduced himself as a member of the Al-Khobar extortion gang, blamed for most bombings of buses operating in Central Mindanao.

A popular radio outfit in the region, the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC), reported Friday that the bus was bombed less than 30 minutes after the caller had warned of an attack.

The NDBC, which has two radio stations in South Cotabato’s provincial capital, Koronadal City, also reported that two men planted the improvised explosive device (IED) inside the bus before departing for Gen. Santos City.

Investigators said the IED was detonated from a distance using a mobile phone.

Chief Superintendent Lester Camba, director of the Region 12 police office in Gen. Santos City, which has jurisdiction over South Cotabato, said probers will immediately file cases against the culprits once identified.

He appealed to potential witnesses to help in their ongoing investigation on the incident.