BOMB experts inspect a passenger van after a homemade bomb exploded inside it near a mall in Davao City, injuring its driver and conductor. KARLOS MANLUPIG / INQUIRER MINDANAO
DAVAO CITY—A homemade bomb planted inside a van exploded shortly it unloaded passengers near SM City Davao on Ecoland in the city’s Matina District on Wednesday, injuring the driver and conductor, police said.
Senior Supt. Vicente Danao Jr., city police chief, said the bomb blew up while the Toyota Hi-Ace van was moving outside the gates of Ecoland 4000 Residences around 9:45 a.m.
No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion. The names of the victims were not immediately known, but Danao said they were brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center, Danao said.
“The van just offloaded passengers from the terminal outside SM when the IED (improvised explosive device) exploded,” he said. It came from Pikit, North Cotabato province, said Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, city police spokesperson.
At least two cars parked along the road were also damaged.
Bomb experts scoured the area in search for clues shortly after the incident. Among the pieces they recovered were the shattered casing of what appeared to be a 60-millimeter mortar shell and a damaged cell phone.
Danao said the police were eyeing several angles, including personal grudge and terrorism.
Past attacks
Davao City had been target of terror attacks in the past.
In April 2003, at least three dozen people were killed while several others were wounded when bombs exploded at the Sasa wharf and the Davao International Airport.
On Feb. 14, 2005, a 12-year-old boy was killed during an at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal, about 600 meters from the scene of Wednesday’s blast.
In September 2013, five people were injured when bombs went off inside the cinemas of SM City Davao and Gaisano Mall.
“We should always be vigilant and report (any suspicious activity) to the police,” Danao said. Dennis Santos and Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao