Nine people were killed when a bomb exploded aboard a bus in the southern Philippine town of Bansalan on Friday, a military report said. The bomb exploded inside a vehicle of the Weena Bus Company which has been previously targeted by criminal groups.
Authorities warned the death toll could rise further as at least seven others were seriously injured. Just minutes earlier, another bomb exploded aboard a parked bus from the same company in the southern city of Cotabato. The vehicle was empty at the time and no one was injured.
Bansalan police chief Sherwin Butil said investigators have yet to determine what type of bomb was used or speculate on the motive of the bombers. He said police still had a cordon around the area in case there were other explosives around.
The bus had stopped in Bansalan to pick up passengers on its way to the city of Davao when the bomb exploded, Butil said. He said a suspect had left a bag onboard the bus with a bomb inside.
Curious townspeople milled around the area, looking at the blast site where at least one bloodied body could still be seen, lying on the ground, near the shattered remains of the bus. Most of the dead and injured were in the front of the bus according to company employee Danilo Barimbao. "A passenger noticed a man behaving strangely when he got on the bus," he told AFP.
"He stuffed a bag under his seat just a few rows back from the driver and hurried off. The passenger told the conductor who was carrying the bag out of the bus when it exploded killing him instantly." Glass and pieces of twisted metal littered the area along with discarded bags and bits of clothing.
A week ago five people were hurt when a bomb exploded aboard a Weena Bus in the southern town of Matalam and on May 18 a bomb exploded aboard another company bus at a terminal in Cotabato, leaving three dead and wounding 15 others. Police have said that the company has been receiving extortion letters but gave no details.
Just before Friday's bombings, a letter from someone calling himself "Commander Barumbado" was sent to the company demanding two million pesos (43,500 dollars) in monthly payments. Police have previously said that extortion rather than terrorism is the likely motive of the bombings.