Bomb explodes in Mindanao bus terminal

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 22, 2009) - An improvised bomb exploded before dawn Sunday at a commuter bus depot in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the explosion occurred at around 2.45 a.m. in Cotabato City. There were no reports of civilian casualties but two buses, owned by Husky, were slightly damaged from the blast, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Ponce quickly blamed the attack to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who were allegedly extorting money from the bus firm.

“The motive of the attack is extortion by the MILF-SOG,” he said, referring to the so-called Special Operations Group, a unit of the rebel group.

But police investigators were eyeing business rivalry in the blast. The MILF denied the accusation and said it has nothing to do with the attack.

“Why blame us for everything that is happening in Mindanao, we have nothing to do with it. We are not terrorists,” said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader. (Mindanao Examiner)