KIDAPAWAN CITY – Seven people were injured in a bomb attack Sunday in General Santos City in the restive southern Philippines region of Mindanao.
An improvised explosive went off before noontime in Apopong village near a row of shops and injuring mostly civilians. (See video here)
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the bombing and security officials did not release any statement. But the attack occured while the whole region is in an extended state of martial rule. (See video here)
It was unclear how the bomber managed to sneak the improvised explosive in the city which was previously bombed many times in the past decades.
In July this, security forces killed a suspected bomber, Najib Pundug, whose group is being linked to ISIS. Six other suspected militants, including the wife of Islamists leader. Abu Dar, were captured in separate raids.
Security remains tight in many areas in Mindanao following two successive bombings in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province that left scores of civilian casualties; and a suicide attack in Lamitan City by a Moroccan ISIS soldier that also killed many soldiers and civilians.
President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law following last year’s deadly siege by pro-ISIS militants in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province which lasted five months. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Rhoderick Benez.)
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