Security tight in South

SECURITY REMAINS tight in southern Philippines following a deadly bomb attack on a provincial bus in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province that killed one civilian and injured at least 11 others, including two soldiers.

A photo released to the Mindanao Examiner by the Western Mindanao Command shows rescuers attending to a blast victim.

Up to now, no individual or group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 6 bombing of the air-conditioned bus, owned and operated by Yellow Bus Line. The bus came from Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province and was carrying over two dozen passengers when the bomb went off.

Previous attacks had been largely blamed on local pro-ISIS extremists groups. It was unclear how the bomber was able to sneak the improvised explosive in the bus or what type of device was used in the attack. 

The military has condemned the bombing that claimed the life of 56-year old Gilbert Gabosa, a resident of North Cotabato’s Carmen town.

“We condemn this act to the highest degree. This is a cowardly act of the terrorist group and peace spoilers that put the lives of innocent civilians in danger and doing so is a violation of both human rights and international humanitarian law. In this regard, we are working with the PNP investigators to neutralize these terrorists,” said Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry Division.

“We will exert efforts so that we can identify who are the culprits of this incident and pursue proper actions according to law,” he added.

The Western Mindanao Command said it has a lead on who was behind the attack and vowed to hunt down the perpetrators.

“While we already have a lead on the possible perpetrators, we will continue our investigation to accurately identify and pursue these heartless attackers. We will not stop hunting down the perpetrators to bring them to the bar of justice. We continue to intensify our internal security efforts to counter similar incidents that risk the lives of innocent civilians,” said Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, the acting chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

In May this year, a bomb also exploded inside a Yellow Bus Line unit in downtown Koronadal City in South Cotabato province and injured at least two persons. The improvised explosive went off at the engine bay of the bus. Two drivers of motorcycle taxis tailing the bus were injured in the explosion. The bus originated from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province. 

No group had claimed responsibility for that attack, even after a bomb explosion in April also ripped through another provincial bus owned by Rural Transit of Mindanao in Parang town in Maguindanao province and wounded several passengers. The attack occurred in the village of Making where the bus made a stop at a roadside eatery. The bus was on its way to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte from Cotabato City when the powerful explosion occurred.

In January, a bomb explosion also went off near a fruit stand and a ticket booth in North Cotabato’s Tulunan town where a Yellow Bus Line was picking up passengers. The powerful blast killed a civilian and wounded 7 others. The blast came a day after pro-ISIS militants detonated a roadside bomb in the town of South Upi in neighboring Maguindanao and killed one civilian. The military blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for the bombing. (Mindanao Examiner)