2 civilians hurt in explosion of bomb intended for gov’t troops in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — Two civilians, one of them a minor, were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels exploded on a road in a remote village on Saturday morning in Ligao City in Albay province, according to a military report.

Captain John Paul Belleza, public affairs chief of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID), identified the wounded civilians as Jesus Posiquit, resident of Barangay (village) Paulba and Jaymar Reobilo, 15, a resident of Barangay Allang.

Belleza said Posiquit was on his way home on his tricycle from Pio Duran town, driving on a road in Barangay Allang, when the IED went off at 8:22 a.m.

Reobillo was standing nearby and was also hit by the blast.

Both Posiquit and Reobillo suffered shrapnel wounds and were taken to the Josefa Belmonte Duran-Albay Provincial Hospital in Ligao City. They were pronounced in stable condition.

Belleza said the IED was intended for government troops who were conducting a community support program in villages.

“It was by chance that the two civilians passed by when the anti-personnel mine was detonated,” he added.

[atm]