1 hurt as blast hits convoy of Zamboanga del Sur town vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines – One was injured when an explosion hit a two-vehicle convoy of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Vice Mayor Ukol Talumpa that was traversing a street in Pagadian City Wednesday afternoon, the military said Thursday.

Captain Alberto Caber of the Army’s First Infantry Division said the blast near Izah Hospital occurred at about 5:40 p.m.

The injured was identified as Police Officer 1 Mohammad Magumpara of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Office, one of Talumpa’s security escorts.

He suffered shrapnel wounds and was immediately brought to Izah Hospital.

Talumpa was on his way back to Labangan, coming from a shopping mall.

Government troops identified the explosive as a fragmentation grenade.

Army’s First Infantry Division Commander Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz ordered his men to help the local police in the investigation.