SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines — Seven people, one of them a three-year-old girl, were wounded in an explosion in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City at past 11 a.m. yesterday.
The victims were identified as Marlon Orabia, 30; Jerry Guyos, 19; Felipa Regidor, 64; Lally Jean Alipio, 34; John Calang, 22; Claire Uozolam, 24; and three-year-old Joana Alipio.
Malacañang condemend the bombing and vowed to run after its perpetrators.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms (yesterday’s explosion that comes) at an unfortunate time when the nation is reeling from the effects of Ompong,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.
“Authorities are now conducting an investigation. We vow to bring the perpetrators of this brazen attack to justice,” he added.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has directed the mobilization of all available police security forces to pursue the suspects.
Investigators told reporters that two men, suspected to be members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, were behind the bombing.
The suspects asked a roadside barbecue vendor at the Makar-Apopong intersection if there was pork barbecue and left when told there was none.
A witness confirmed seeing one of the suspects leave behind his bag, which exploded minutes after they left. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero