19 hurt in South Cotabato bus bombing

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines - Nineteen passengers were injured Thursday in an explosion inside a unit of the Yellow Bus Company while at a secluded stretch of a national highway in the outskirts of Polomolok town in South Cotabato.

Investigators said the improvised explosive device (IED), placed in the baggage compartment at the rear section of the bus, was set from a distance using a mobile phone.

Local officials are convinced extortionists were behind the bombing, meant to intimidate and force the owner of the bus company to shell out “protection money” on a regular basis.

The bus, bearing body numbers 2008 and license plates MWB- 296, was on its way to Gen. Santos City when the IED went off.

Senior Superintendent Jose Biones, director of the South Cotabato City provincial police, said investigators are yet to identify the group responsible for the attack.

Responding rescue and emergency teams from the local government unit of Polomolok and the provincial government said 19 passengers sustained shrapnel wounds in the explosion.

Immediately rushed to a hospital were injured passengers Jerryl Cabuyao, his wife Abigail and their newly-born daughter, Akisha Gale, all residents of Apopong District in Gen. Santos City.   

Other passengers injured in the blast, Mark Anthony Dela Cruz, Ericka Maulin, Omar Solani, Mary Grace Villaseran, Rose Villamarie Talusi, Cecil Amelier, Princess Olarte, Twinkle Mae Olarte, Elnam Olarte, Marilou Yabut,  Divina Duran, Amor Pedrigosa, Francis Eric Resticia, Angel Ayoc, Ebona Canua and Moises Fajartin, were also evacuated to hospitals.