Saturday, January 05, 2008
Woman dead, 8 hurt in Cotabato blast
By Edgardo Fuerzas
A WOMAN died, while eight others were wounded when a fragmentation grenade went off inside a beer garden in Cotabato City, just a few meters away from the city port, at past 9 p.m., Thursday.
Police identified the dead victim as Joan Dampas, 32, resident of Purok Maunawain, Barangay Rosary Hieghts 13, Cotabato City, while the wounded are: Roberto Cabigas, 48, resident of Cotabato City; Rowena Sangcaan 24; Richell Taipen, 22; Juvy Rizo 20; Gina Tampuli, all residents of Digos City; Paula Oliveros 22, a resident of Pikit, Cotabato; Aileen Dok, 19, from Polomolok, South Cotabato; and Johanna Douglas, 18, a resident of Matina, Davao City.
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Dampas, 32, who worked as cashier at the Fama Videoke House, was declared dead at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center due to severe injuries on her lower extremities.
Seven of the eight wounded in the blast were guest relations' workers, while Cabigas is an employee of the Cotabato Light and Power Company.
Senior Superintendent Willy Dangane, Cotabato City Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said extortion or personal grudge could be behind the blast.
Based on witnesses' account, the grenade could have been planted by one of the three men, who were earlier inside the pub. The three were regular customers.
Dangane said the men showed up at the pub looking for a certain GRO. Minutes after they left the place, a loud explosion was heard leaving Dampas dead and seven others injured.
It was not clear, though, if Dampas was the target.
As of Friday, no suspects were named nor was the type of bomb determined. No armed group also took responsibility for the blast.
However, reliable sources believe local recruits of the terrorist group Jemmaah Islamiyah made the improvised explosive device.
The pubhouse owner, Ging-Ging Oliveros, said she did not receive any threats from any armed group.
She said before the blast, three unidentified men who each drank a bottle of beer were going in and out of the pub house. After a few minutes, the bomb exploded.
Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema ordered the police to conduct further investigation and identify the suspects behind the blast. He also ordered tighter security measures in the city.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (January 5, 2008 issue)
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