4 hurt in Bukidnon bus bombing

MARAMAG, Bukidnon - Police authorities here are coordinating with bus terminal management in North Cotabato and Tacurong City for the identities of the suspects who planted an improvised bomb at the rear portion of Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) bus.The blast left four passengers, Paquito Jivares, 61, Lyn Quadero, 21, Diolola Fostanes, 36,
and Daniel Sincero, 45, who were all seated near the engine at the rear of the
bus on its way to Cagayan de Oro City from Tacurong City.Police
Inspector Jiselle Lou Longakit, speaking for the Bukidnon
police office, said no one has claimed responsibility.Inspector Jose Regner Sevillano, Maramag police deputy chief, said the blast site was in a Barangay Dolongon, Maramag and the explosive went off at 12:15 p.m. while the bus was in motion. He said the bomb could have been planted somewhere else.He said the Maramag PNP has coordinated with the management of all the bus terminals in North Cotabato and in Tacurong City for the review of CCTV footages.The blast damaged the engine and shattered the protective glass panes at the rear sides of the bus.Dozens
of buses and business establishments in Tacurong City and nearby towns
in the neighboring Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces have been
bombed by extortionists in years past.Longakit
said the wounded passengers have been declared out of danger by doctors
at the hospital where they were evacuated for medication.Police could not say this early the possible motive of the attack.