2 soldiers wounded in roadside blast in North Cotabato town

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3): 2 soldiers wounded in roadside blast in North Cotabato town

Two soldiers were wounded when a bomb exploded along the highway in Magpet, North Cotabato, around 1:15 p.m. Friday, an hour before a big rally of a town mayoral candidate was supposed to take place, police said.

SPO4 Menardo Cui, deputy chief of Magpet police, said the bomb was planted a few feet away from the highway, along the boundary of Barangays Binay and Doles – two areas considered ‘highly influenced’ by communist guerrillas.

Cui said the victims, on board a military truck, were on their way to Barangay Binay to conduct their routine patrol operations when the explosion took place.

Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, chief of the civil military operations of the 57th IB, identified the victims as Cpl. Rogelio de Vera and Pfc. Michael Abrazaldo, both members of the Bravo Company of the 57th IB.

Both sustained multiple shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies but are declared ‘out of danger’ by hospital doctors, Sema said.

Sema was certain that the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) was behind the recent roadside blast.

The explosion on Friday was the seventh since January which took place in the area of operations of the 57th IB, military records showed.

Due to shaky situation, Mayor Efren Pinol decided to cancel his rally in Barangay Binay.

He said he could not sacrifice the safety of his supporters since the situation is too risky.

“Besides, the military and the police are still conducting manhunt operations. It’s not acceptable that we put the safety and security of our men in jeopardy,” said Pinol.

This wasn’t the first time there was bomb blast in Barangay Binay where he was supposed to hold a rally.

In May 2010, when he was seeking re-election, a bomb went off along the highway, also on the same spot, which also led him to cancel the rally.

Pinol was hoping the shaky situation in Barangay Binay will not continue until election day.

“We will make sure the people in Barangay Binay could cast their vote without fear on May 13. It would be a lot difficult if the same incident will happen on that day… God forbid,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=522406