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Thursday, July 19, 2007
YBL bus bombed in Sultan Kuradat; 3 injured
By Rommel G. Rebollido
* Homemade bomb explodes inside YBL Bus Number 15, parked at overland terminal in Tacurong City
* Victims include a 12-year-old boy, who was hit in the neck
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Three people, including a young boy, were wounded when a homemade bomb exploded inside a bus in Tacurong City on Wednesday afternoon.
The bus number 15 of Yellow Bus Line was parked at Tacurong City overland transport terminal in Barangay Isabela when the bomb went off.
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Tacurong City police director Joel Limson said the incident happened at around 12:25 p.m., a few minutes after the bus, with plate number MBC 304, stopped over at the terminal for the driver, bus conductor and passengers to take their lunch.
The bus came from the nearby Isulan town, the capital of Sultan Kudarat, and was heading for Koronadal City in South Cotabato, which celebrated its 41st foundation anniversary yesterday.
After five minutes, a loud explosion was heard, believed to be caused by improvised explosive device with a command detonator using a cellphone.
Reports said a female passenger left the bomb inside the bus unit.
Limson identified the victims as Kent Atiquiza, 12-years-old and a resident of Tacurong, and Melencio Castillo, 22, of Mlang, Cotabato. Another male victim has yet to be identified.
The victims are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Doctors said the boy was hit in his neck while Castillo sustained a head injury.
Witnesses said the victims were having lunch at an eatery where the ill-fated bus was parked nearby.
Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, who rushed to the site, said they are planning to put up security cameras in public places all over the province.
"This will help authorities in the post investigation. The cameras might record the suspects," he said.
asat July 7, another YBL unit was also bombed in nearby Koronadal City. The police suspected extortion in that incident.
The explosion ripped the back portion of the bus, similar to what happened yesterday, Limson said.
Police said they saw a pattern in the bomb attack in Koronadal City and in Tacurong City.
Limson said the target is always the rear end of the bus where the engine is located.
Limson said they also suspect that the blast is extortion-related.
In connection with the bus explosion in Koronadal, the police in Tacurong arrested two suspects at a police checkpoint last week.
The suspects included Muhammad Kusain, a resident of Barangay Dungguan in Mlang town, Cotabato, and Nasrudin Cambang alias Dencio of Barangay Ramkor in Pendatun town, Maguindanao.
They now face formal charges before the Regional Trial Court Branch 25 under Executive Judge Oscar Dinopol in Koronadal City. (With BSS and Garry Fuerzas of Sun.Star Superbalita)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (July 19, 2007 issue)
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