2 killed, 17 hurt in North Cotabato blast

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Two people were killed while 17 others were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at a billiard hall near the town plaza in Mlang, North Cotabato at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Mlang Mayor Joselito Piñol said the explosion happened at the establishment owned by the Javier family located about five meters from the plaza where several people were visiting the carnival.

The fatalities were identified as John Camiring and Jade Villarin.

Those wounded were brought to hospitals in Mlang and in Cotabato Provincial Hospital (CPH) in Kidapawan City.

Piñol said two suspicious looking men were seen in the area before the blast.

Then the men sped off on a yellow motorcycle towards unknown directions.

“We have witnesses who could give information and we hope it can help in identifying the [perpetrators],” Mayor Pinol told dxND Radyo Bida in Kidapawan City.

Military bomb experts were sent to the area to conduct post blast investigation in order to determine the type of explosive used by the suspects.

“We condemn this act. I already instructed the police to conduct thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators behind bars,” Mayor Pinol said. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao