Bus bombed in South Cotabato

By Ronron
July 7, 2007

Another passenger bus in Mindanao was bombed late Saturday afternoon in Koronadal City, South Cotabato although no casualties were immediately reported, police said.

The bombing of a Yellow Bus Line unit (plate number LVK-314) came less than a month since two buses were also blown off in Cotabato City and Davao del Sur last June 15, killing eight people and wounding 18 others.

PO1 Leonard Valdez, duty desk officer of the Koronadal City Police, said in a phone interview that the ill-fated bus had just arrived from Surallah town of the same province when the explosion happened at around 5:50 pm yesterday (Saturday) inside the Yellow Bus Line Terminal along General Santos Drive in Koronadal City.

Valdez said all passengers had already alighted, including the driver, when the unknown type of bomb went off at the rear portion of the bus.

“It was already five minutes since the last passenger of the bus got down so no one was hurt, based on the initial reports from the site,” said Valdez.

Valdez said only the rear portion of the bus was damaged.

He said police are now tracing a male passenger who was seen carrying the carton that allegedly contained the explosive device.

The man, described to be sporting a beard and mustache and wearing a red shirt, alighted from the bus before it reached the terminal of the Yellow Bus Line, said Valdez.

Investigation is still ongoing to determine the type of bomb used, the suspects behind it, and the motive, Valdez said.

Last June 15, two buses exploded separately within a 30-minute interval in Cotabato City and Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

The first explosion happened at the Weena Bus Terminal in Cotabato City, leaving no casualties, while the second, which was more tragic, occurred along the national highway of Bansalan, killing eight people and wounding 18 others.

A week earlier, another bus was bombed in Matalam, North Cotabato, hurting 10 people, and much earlier on May 18, a Weena Bus was blown off in Cotabato City, killing at least one person and wounding over 30 others.

All incidents have been blamed to extortionists who reportedly demand “protection money” from the bus line owners./DMS