Woman tagged in Tacurong bus bombing

TACURONG CITY, Philippines — Probers said a woman was behind Sunday’s bombing of a bus in this city that left a passenger dead and 11 others injured.

Brig. Gen. Roy Galido of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and Brig. Gen. Jamili Macaraeg of the Soccsksargen police said the police and military are helping identify the woman, who according to witnesses was carrying a piece of luggage when she boarded the bus at a terminal in M’lang, Cotabato.

Investigators are eyeing extortion as the motive and the terrorist groups Al-Khobar and Dawlah Islamiya as the perpetrators.

The fatality was identified as Gilbert Panes, 56.

The bomb was reportedly detonated using a mobile phone.