Cotabato City blast kills 6

From Rappler (Aug 5): Cotabato City blast kills 6



BLAST. A powerful bomb exploded in a busy street in Cotabato City. Photo by Zainudin Malang/Minhrac

A powerful bomb exploded at the center of Cotabato City on Monday, August 5, killing at least 6 and injuring 25, according to the military.

Lt Col Custodio Parcon of the Armed Forces Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 said a cop was among the fatalities. The Marine Battalion was deployed to assist the police in investigating the explosion. EOD and K9 units were deployed.

"Apparently a multicab was used as car bomb parked near Villa Funeral Home. Allegedly it went off after the vehicle of City Administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi passed by," according to a separate report by the Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The explosion occurred at Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City at around 4:30 p.m. All injured are receiving medical treatment at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

"We call on the people to stay calm and cooperate with government authorities for the prevention of similar incidents," said AFP public information chief Lt Col Ramon Zagala.

The late-afternoon blast damaged at least 4 vehicles and triggered a fire that engulfed a nearby mortuary and a tire repair shop, he added.

CAR BOMB. Authorities say a multicab was used as a car bomb in the attack. Photo by Zainudin Malang/Minhrac

Cotabato is a mixed Muslim-Catholic city on the main southern island of Mindanao, where Muslim insurgents have waged a decades old rebellion that has claimed 150,000 lives.

It was the second bombing to hit Mindanao in 10 days. A powerful blast at a restaurant packed with doctors and pharmaceutical salesmen left 8 people dead in Cagayan de Oro City on July 26.

More than 300 persons were killed in bombing attacks in Mindanao over the last 12 years.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/35672-cotabato-city-blast