DAVAO CITY – Two people were injured when an improvised explosive device went off Wednesday inside a commuter van in Davao City in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the van, operated by UV Express, was parked near SM City Ecoland when the bomb went off. The van came from North Cotabato’s Pikit town, said Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
“A bomb exploded in a van which came from Pikit, North Cotabato. No one died from the explosion, but 2 persons were hurt,” he said.
“Police and military are conducting thorough investigation into the blast and are intensifying the check points inside the city and at its borders. Your local government is on top of it,” he added.
The Eastern Mindanao Command has ordered stricter security in military checkpoints in Davao City following the blast which occurred at around 9.40 a.m. at the Ecoland 4000 Residences at the back of mall.
Troops are in heightened alert since November 15 two days after deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, France that left over 300 people dead and wounded, and the on-going Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Manila.
“We have increased security not only in Davao, but elsewhere in the region following the latest bombing and the Paris attacks and APEC meeting in Manila. We are closely working with the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure operational readiness and deployment of troops in case of emergency,” Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Caber said initial report suggested that a 60mm mortar bomb was used in the attack. “It was left in the van; the bomb was placed inside a cardboard box. Authorities are investigating this now to determine the motive of the bombing,” he said.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack, but several rebel groups are operating in the region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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