Security guard hurt in Zambo blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A bomb exploded outside a fishing company Thursday night, injuring a security guard in a village here, according to authorities.

Village official said the explosion rocked the village triggering panic among the locals nearby YL Fishing in Barangay Talon-Talon.

Teodyver Arquiza, chairman of Barangay Talon-Talon, said the explosion occurred 11:15 p.m. while his village was hosting various Christmas festivities nearby.

Police identified the lone injured victim as Carlito Bastian, stationed as guard of YL Fishing along the main road of Barangay Talon-Talon.

“The guards of the firm said prior to the explosion they heard an object that was lobbed outside the gate that prompted the guards to check and moments later the explosion occurred,” Arquiza said.

The guards later heard a motorcycle speeding away towards unknown direction.

The explosion partially destroyed the guard station.

Police were baffled on the motive of the bomb attack as representative of the fishing company claimed they did not receive any threat or extortion letter.

Police Chief Inspector Rhean Loyd Bato, chief of the Police Bomb Squad, said the explosion came from an improvised explosive device (IED), which was detonated using a cellphone device.

He said they recovered from the explosion site debris of cellphone parts brought to the police crime laboratory.  

“It was confirmed to be an IED and not military ordnance,” Bato said.

Bato added they did find bomb enhancers like ball bearings or nails as shrapnel to inflict mass casualty.