Extort gang behind bus bomb attack – police
SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines --- Police said yesterday the Al-Khobar extortion group is behind the bombing of a bus in Polomolok, South Cotabato, hurting 18 passengers including children, on Thursday.
Yellow Bus Co. officials confirmed receiving a phone call from someone who had threatened to bomb one of its buses if it refused to shell out protection money.
The Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. (NDBC) reported yesterday that the bus was bombed less than 30 minutes after the caller had warned of the attack.
The NDBC added that two men planted an improvised explosive device inside the bus before it departed for Gen. Santos City and detonated the IED using a mobile phone.
Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, South Cotabato 2nd District, condemned the attack, labeling it as brutal and barbaric.
He said the attack destroyed the province’s image of a “peaceful and friendly” place aside from hurting its tourism efforts.
Al-Khobar, according to the police, is responsible for most of the bus bombings in Mindanao. – With Ramil Bajo
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