Eight injured after blast in Santos City

Manila Times/Zamboanga City

Eight people were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by unidentified suspects at a flagpole near the monument of Dr Jose Rizal near the City Hall building in General Santos City went off Tuesday night.

Police reports identified only four of the eight wounded as Jay Maglanao, Christian Paul Ami-mong, Marlon Tajada from Sto. Nino town in South Cotabato and Sarah

El Alquiza from General Santos City.

The victims, who sustained shrapnel wounds in their bodies, were rushed to the St Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said no individual claimed responsibility for the explosion and that authorities are investigating the motive of the attack, which happened the day after the city celebrated the Tuna Festival.

“The Joint Task Force Gensan of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division and the police authorities responded immediately to assist the victims. Authorities are investigating the blast,” he said.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera visited the victims in the hospital and assured their families that the government will shoulder all their expenses and medicines.

He also ordered security forces to immediate resolve the bombing.

“I want to pin down immediately whoever are behind this explosion. I don’t want these people to create more havoc to Gensan,” Rivera told Manila Times.

“Gensan is steadily progressing. This blast will somehow be a deterrent to the vibrant economy of the city, specially to the entry of investments,” he added.

Rivera appealed to residents to stay calm and vigilant.

“I want all residents to be strong in these times. Let us not blame and point fingers because that won’t really help. Let us be vigilant, let us help one another because Gensan is our home,” he said.

An hour after the bomb blast in General Santos City, a grenade exploded at a warehouse in downtown Lamitan City in Basilan.

Police said one of two men riding on a motorcycle lobbed the grenade at a warehouse owned by Bobong Yumul on Rizal St. in Barangay Maganda. There was no report of casualties.