North Cotabato's Agri-Products

Farmers sell their vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products in the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

Bomb explodes in North Cotabato town

Government troops patrol the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province as residents go by their usual chores. A bomb explosion on Christmas day destroyed a cargo truck in North Cotabato's Carmen town, but there were no reports of casualties. (Mindanao Examiner / Geo Solmerano)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / December 26, 2009) – A bomb explosion in the southern Philippines destroyed a cargo truck, but security officials said there were no reports of casualties.

The Christmas day attack occurred in the town of Carmen in North Cotabato province, a hotbed of Muslim and communist insurgencies.

It was unknown whether the bombing was carried out by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or the communist New People’s Army rebels and officials said authorities were investigating the motive of the attack.

Police said the improvised explosive, assembled from a 60mm mortar bomb, was planted under the truck parked in downtown area.

“No casualties were reported in the explosion,” said Inspector Winston Seniel, the town’s police chief.

He said the truck was owned by vegetable trader Eddie Untalan, who reported receiving extortion demand from the Al-Khobar gang, blamed for the spate of kidnappings and extortion activities in the southern Philippines.

Police said the gang was demanding one million pesos from Untalan in exchange for his safety. (Geo Solmerano)

Christmas tree displays in North Cotabato

Christmas trees made of indigenous materials line up a village in Magpet town in North Cotabato province in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geo Solmerano)

Soldier injured in North Cotabato blast

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 7, 2009) – A landmine explosion near an army post Thursday injured a government soldier in the restive region of the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the blast occurred at around 3.45 p.m. near the village of Basak in Magpet town in North Cotabato province. A soldier belonging to the 57th Infantry Battalion was reported wounded in the explosion.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast, but the province was recently attacked by Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who killed three people.

It was unknown if the rebels were behind the latest attack. (Geo Solmerano)

Children play in North Cotabato's Magpet town in Mindanao

In this beautiful river of Sitio Rico in Magpet’s Poblacion in North Cotabato province, local children spend most of their summer time playing and swimming in the cold and clean water at the foot of Mount Apo. The area is also a favorite destination of picnickers. (Mindanao Examiner / Contributed photo by Ferdinandh Cabrera)