‘Payoff eyed in Bukidnon blast’

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 12): ‘Payoff eyed in Bukidnon blast’

Rural Transit Mindanao bus line hit a second time

MARAMAG, Bukidnon—Governor Jose Maria Zubiri on Wednesday said extortion was likely behind Tuesday’s bombing of a Rural Transit Mindanao bus at the front gate of the Central Mindanao University here.

Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri

In a security briefing with police and military officials, he said the attack that killed at least 10 people and injured 41 others had the footprint of the RTM bus blasted an improvised explosive device last November 6 on the national highway in Maramag town.

Citing bomb squad reports, Zubiri said the IED was a mortar round that used a mobile phone to trigger detonation.

Major Christian Uy, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, said investigation was on going even as the social media had postings of a group named Kalifa Islamiya Mindanao (KIM) claiming to have masterminded the assault.

Zubiri said the latest bombing could not be faulted on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has denied any involvement.

Students from Central Mindanao University call for a stop to violence in a
rally on December 11, 2014 at the school’s main gate where a bomb
exploded inside a bus a day earlier, leaving at least 10 people dead and
41 others injured. LANCE BACONGUIS

“We cannot believe that the BIFF could do such thing, we just celebrated our 100 years as a province and during the month long celebration where thousands of visitors came, if it was their intention to harm people, they could have done that at that time,” he said, absolving the New People’s Army.

“It is not the handiwork of the NPA. It is not their style to harm people.” Regional Police Director Isagani Genabe also told a local radio station that findings were still inconclusive.

While RTM management denied being fleeced, Zubiri said the first bombing appeared to indicate otherwise.

“The November 6 bombing could have been a warning to RTMI, where four people were injured in the early evening attack,” he said.

Added public safety measures include permanent checkpoints with K-9 units including the civilian militia at entry points of Davao, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro and Agusan provinces.

“We have been voted for three times as the most peaceful province across the country and this (bombing) has totally changed that,” he said, adding that he has asked the bus firm to extend financial assistance the victims.

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