16 killed in bus bombs

ZAMBOANGA CITY - At least 16 persons were killed while many others were wounded when two timebombs planted inside two passenger buses exploded at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday in Kulambugan, Lanao del Sur, a military official said here.

Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, chief of the Army 1st Division said the two Super 5 buses packed with passengers were aboard a barge of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) enroute to Ozamis Oriental when the bombs exploded.

Abaya said the powerful explosion initially killed 16 of the passengers while many others were wounded.

He said the blast ripped through the ceilings of the buses and most of the victims were thrown.

"Some of the passengers jumped overboard," Abaya said, quoting reports from the police authorities.

Police probers disclosed that the bombs were planted among the passengers' baggage and was set to explode while the barge was at sea.

Abaya said some of the wounded victims died on the barge due to loss of blood while the rest were rushed to hospitals in Ozamis upon arrival of the barge.

"This is purely the handiwork of the extortion gang hitting transportation companies in Mindanao," Abaya said.

Elements of the 18th Infantry Battalion were immediately dispatched to hunt the suspects who were positively identified by some of the witnesses.