Motorcycle bomb kills 1, hurts 7 in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY—A bomb attached to a motorcycle ripped through a commercial building here, killing one person and wounding at least seven others.

“It was a very powerful bomb,” said Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, city administrator.

Eight had been hit by the blast and one died, a photographer identified as Jimmy Ali, said Sayadi.

Seven other victims have been brought to the Cotabato City Medical Specialist Hospital, according to Supt. Roberto Badian, city police chief.

Police recovered a damaged Nokia 5110 mobile phone believed used as trigger mechanism for the bomb which was fashioned from mortar shells. The blast occurred past 2 p.m., said police.

The motorcycle, where the bomb was placed, was a total wreck. It was parked beside the SWAT Gun Store and a pharmacy in the same building on Quezon Avenue.

“There was a thunderous blast and windows were destroyed in the pharmacy and gun store,” said Susan Simbajon, who was passing by when the bomb exploded.

The blast also damaged William Lapaz Batchoy and other establishments across the street.

The wounded were identified as Nancy Lagawon, of the National Statistics Office-Maguindanao; Ito Kaurudin, a security guard; Tessie Lasafrania, noodle store owner; Nestor Luna and Brian Go, guards at the gun store; and passersby Guiahida Caural and five-year-old Aniza Pasandalan.

Among the other wounded, who have not been identified, were passengers in a public utility jeep that was passing by during the blast.

“I condemn this act of terrorism,” Sayadi said.

Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema said he was stunned by the bombing which happened on the second day of the fasting month of Ramadan.

“All the victims are innocent people for sure. This is barbaric and un-Islamic,” Sema told reporters.

The bomb attack came despite a heightened alert status imposed by law enforcers since last week ahead of the fasting month which started Aug. 1.Edwin Fernandez, Charlie C. Señase, Nash Maulana, Inquirer Mindanao