2 injured in UP-Diliman blast

MANILA, Philippines—Two people were injured after a still undetermined explosive device went off at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City on Monday afternoon.

Police Officer 1 Charles Gumayat said the explosion occurred at the university’s Palma Hall around 2:20 p.m. wounding Reynaldo Natividad, 44, and Faustino Valencia, 38.

“Ang initial report is naghuhukay silang dalawa sa labas ng Palma Hall tapos may bigla na lang sumabog (The initial report is that the two were digging at the back of Palma Hall then suddenly the blast occurred),” Gumayat said.

He said investigators have yet to determine the type of explosive.

But a radio report quoted Bong Mapala of UP’s Special Services Brigade as saying that the explosion was caused by a pillbox (not a World War II bomb as earlier reported).

Mapala also said no student was hurt from the explosion as the two victims were both maintenance workers.