At least 8 hurt in Tacurong bombings
Breaking News • 05:21 AM Tue Apr 18, 2017
1,581
By:
Edwin Fernandez, John Unson and Ferdinandh Cabrera
TACURONG CITY – At least eight persons, mostly police officers, were injured in
separate bombing incidents here at about 7 p.m., police said.
Senior Supt.
Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat provincial police director, said the first
explosion was inside the rest room of Dragon Gasoline Station located at the
corner of national highway and New Isabela Street.
Another improvised
bomb planted near the gas stations signage went off while scene of the crime
operatives were conducting investigation.
While police and
bomb experts were investigating, another explosion occurred that injured police
officers and soldiers as well as civilians, he said.
Another
improvised explosive device was found near St. John Learning Center in Barangay
New Isabela, about 100 meters away.
The Gas
station was filled with people as a convenience store and resto bar were
located beside it.
Supiter
identified the injured as bomb disposal team members S/Sgt. Ipil Presaldo,
S/Sgt. Menzo Salsalito Manoy, SPO2 Jasper Garcia, PO1 Martin San Pedro, PO1
Eleazar Sustiguer and three civilians identified only as Bobong Bamo, Michael
Pon and an unidentified man.
Earlier today,
text messages have been circulating about alleged plot by outlawed Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to set off bombs in Tacurong City, Koronadal
City, Gen. Santos City, Cotabato City, Midsayap, North Cotabato and Davao City
to avenge the death of Abu Sayyaf Group in Bohol.
Today’s blast
came about two weeks after an IED explosion injured eight persons when two men
lobbed the bomb in front of Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative Office along
the national highway here, about 800 meters away from Dragon Gas Station. Post blast investigation continues.