Bomb blast destroys education field office

A bomb explosion destroyed a wall, shattered glass windows, and burned the ceiling of the field office of the education department building in nearby Sultan Kudarat, southern Philippines, on Monday afternoon, said Col Essel Soriano, local military chief.

The bomb, made of fertiliser, was placed in the office of the provincial education supervisor, Col Soriano said in the belated report, which reached Manila yesterday. He added that despite the extent of the damage, no one was injured.

"It was not meant to harm. It was only part of the harassment of the education department," said Udtog Kawit, provincial education head. The military and the police condemned the bomb explosion, adding that the next explosion might be fatal.

Authorities discovered about 27 dud bombs that have been successfully defused in various public places in Cotabato City and Metro Manila since March 18.

But the fertiliser-component bomb was different from the dud or wireless bombs that were made of mortar shells or grenades.

No group claimed responsibility and the police refused to give names of suspects.

The bomb that was planted in the education department of Cotabato City on March 25, and those planted in Metro Manila from March 18 to 27, ware claimed to be the responsibility of the Indigenous People's Federal Army (IPFA) which has called for the establishment of a federal form of government for the Muslims, the Christians and the indigenous peoples.

Authorities said the group's real name is not known because another group with a different agenda is using the name to create attention to the call for a change of government and the amendment of the Constitution.