Bomb explodes in south Philippines bus terminal
Killing of Abu Sayyaf commander Gafur Jumdail and two followers is cited as reason
Manila: A bomb exploded in a bus terminal early yesterday, the fourth bombing incident in the south since Thursday.
The bombing follows the killing of a terror commander and two followers on Saturday, which prompted authorities to place emergency workers on full alert.
A grenade exploded inside the Husky Bus Terminal at Tamontaka Village in Cotabato City at 12.40am on Tuesday. There were no fatalities, but the explosion destroyed one bus. Chief Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane said in a radio interview that failed extortion could be the reason for the blast.
A bomb exploded in front of the ticket office of SuperFerry in the village of Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao province, at 3.45am on Monday.
A second bomb also exploded on Quezon Avenue, outside of Padama Pension House in Cotabato at 9.30pm on Sunday. No one was hurt in the incident. Authorities also reported that a bomb exploded at a bus depot in Maguindanao's Cotabato City on Thursday night.
There were reports that the bomb explosions on Sunday, Monday, and yesterday were related to the killing of Abu Sayyaf commander Gafur Jumdail and two followers, following a clash with government troops that raided a safe house in Maimbung town on Sulu island late Saturday.
Members of the Abu Sayyaf Group also operate outside of Sulu and Basilan islands in the south.
In a separate incident, a British national was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in at seven in the evening of Monday in central Philippines, a local paper said.
Anthony Nicolas, 60, a resort owner, was declared dead on arrival at the Sipalay Infirmary in Bacolod City. Chief Inspector Norberto Delmas, police chief of Sipalay told the Inquirer he had been shot in the head.
