PNP forms task group to probe bus bombing in Koronadal

POLICE PROBE A police bomb squad member inspects a passenger bus hit by an explosion in front of a mall in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on Thursday. —JEOFFREY MAITEM

MANILA, Philippines — A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been created to investigate the bombing of a bus in Koronadal City in South Cotabato, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

According to PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., security measures in points of convergence and at transportation terminals and stops in the area have been heightened after the bombing on Thursday noon.

PNP personnel in the area have been beefed up, but Danao still urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

“Rest assured, your PNP is on full alert. Now is also the time for the public to be extra vigilant and report immediately any suspicious individuals or activities in their area,” Danao said.

PNP said that the SITG would be responsible for revealing the post-blast findings.

Reports from PNP and regional bureaus said that the explosion inside one of the Yellow Bus Line’s buses, numbered as 2108, happened along General Santos Drive.

Local police believe an improvised explosive device was used to bomb the bus, which was coming from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat to Koronadal.

No one was killed but two tricycle drivers who were behind the bus during the explosion suffered wounds.

Despite the explosion being described as powerful, observers said that it was a relief that the bus was not packed during the time as its destination point was really Koronadal City.

READ: Blast hits passenger bus in Koronadal City, 2 hurt 

JPV