2 killed, 27 wounded in Zamboanga pension house bombing

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 27, 2011) – Two people were reported killed and over two dozens wounded in a bomb blast late Sunday at a pension house in the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga, officials said.

Officials said the powerful blast ripped through the second floor and tore the roof and flooring of the two-storey Atilano Pension House shortly before 9.30 p.m.

The explosion also damaged glass windows of surrounding buildings and triggered a huge fire.

Police investigators searching through the wreckage said the blast appeared to be caused by a bomb, but would give no further details.

Philippine Red Cross personnel at the scene of the blast said they had taken out at least two dead bodies and numerous severely injured people.

“Two people were killed and over 20 others are wounded. My instruction is to give all medical needs of the victims,” said Mayor Celso Lobregat, adding the police are investigating the blast. “The police are doing an investigation now,” he said.

At least 27 people, mostly wedding guests who were billeted at the pension house, were taken to three hospitals.

The blast occurred following an intelligence report passed by the police to the pension house owner of a possible bombing. “We have told them to tighten their security just this morning and this happened now,” said Senior Inspector Cesar Memoracion, of the local police bomb squad.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack, but it was the second explosion at the same place in the past decade. In January 2000, three students, who were believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, were killed after the bomb they were assembling inside their room exploded.

In late-October, a bomb killed two people in a roadside eatery even as two other bombs were found and safely disposed of in Zamboanga City, which had been targeted by rebels in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)