Cotabato Blast

6 killed, 25 wounded in Cotabato blast

Cotabato city, Monday 5 August 2013. At least six people, including a policeman, died and 25 others were wounded in a roadside blast in Cotabato City this afternoon, the military said. The explosion occurred at around 4:15 p.m. at the corner of Maniara street and Sinsuat avenue, a busy residential and commercial area, in Cotaboto city. The bomb was placed in a motorycle that was parked at the commercial area, said Custodio Parcon, commander of the military's Marine Battalion Landing Team. Parcon said the blast also damaged four vehicles and three motorcycles. The investigation is ongoing, and no suspects have been found, he added. Meanwhile, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division Dickson Hermoso said two vehicles caught fire after the explosion. The explosion came after the US  State Department issued a global travel advisory due to potential attacks by the Al Qaeda network and its affiliate groups. On July 9, suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement bombed a cafe along Sinsuat avenue, leaving the cafe's manager dead and three others injured.

Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma assured that the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. "We condemn the use of violence to hurt and kill our citizens who were just doing peacefully their daily activities," he said in a text message to reporters. He said that the government will hold accountable those responsible in the criminal activity. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Ramon Zagala said "We have deployed units to conduct area security and to cordon the periphery. We call on the people to stay calm and cooperate with the government authorities for the prevention of similar incidents." "This bombing shows that terrorists have no respect to human life and property. The goal is to sow fear. We must come together as a people to collectively fight and condemn this act," Zagala added. -Abasori