Manila: Two people were killed, one of them on the spot, when a bomb exploded on a small stylised vehicle, near a municipal hall, during a celebration to mark the founding of Sinsuat town in the southern Philippines yesterday, police said.
A local government official claimed he escaped a deadly target set by his political enemies.
Regional police director Felicisimo Khu said in a radio interview that the blast occurred a kilometre away from the municipal hall in Datu Odin. The names of the two who died were not released.
Initial investigation has shown they must have been sent on a mission to take the bomb elsewhere, but failed to do so before the bomb exploded, said Khu, adding that no one was injured in the incident.
Anniversary
Meanwhile, Governor Esmail Mangudadatu of Maguindanao claimed he was the real target of the attack, adding he was near the municipal hall to celebrate with his constituents.
"I heard a loud explosion when we were celebrating an event near the municipal hall. They have not stopped attacking me," Mangudadatu said in a TV interview.
He referred to the killing of 57 people, including his wife, sister, followers and more than 30 journalists in a convoy that was to file his candidacy as Maguindanao governor in November 2009.
The accused killers, his political rivals, were identified as former governor of Maguindanao Andal Ampatuan Sr his son Andal Ampatuan Jr, and several other relatives who are now being tried for the massacre.
