Rubber tapper hurt in Basilan explosion

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A rubber tapper was wounded when a still undetermined type of explosive went off inside the Manggal Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Coop. (Marbedco) in Barangay Mangal in Sumisip, Basilan on Thursday morning.

Senior Insp. Alchmad Alibonga, the Sumisip town police chief, identified the lone victim of the 6:30 a.m. blast as Marcos Yagao, 36.

“He suffered injuries in the abdominal part of his body,” Alibonga said, without providing additional details.

He said they were still investigating the explosion to determine the identities of the bombers, their motive and the type of explosive used.