Palace condemns Bukidnon bus bombing

In this photo taken late Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, and released by the Maramag Police Station of the Philippine National Police, an investigator examines a passenger bus following an explosion at Maramag township, Bukidnon province in southern Philippines. AP Photo/Maramag Police Station of the Philippine National Police

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Wednesday condemned the bombing of a passenger bus in Bukidnon, which left at least 11 people dead, and said authorities were bent on finding out who was responsible for the incident.

“Certainly we condemn the violent act that resulted in the loss of lives of nine people—my latest information was nine—and more than 15 injured,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that at least 11 people died and 21 others were injured when a bomb exploded inside a Rural Transit bus in Maramag, Bukidnon, as it made its way to Cagayan de Oro City.

Valte said Malacañang received the information on Tuesday night, hours after the incident.

She said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are working together to find the perpetrators.

“First and foremost, we do extend our sympathies to the families of the nine as well as the injured, and we will be assisting in any way that we can for what has happened to them,” Valte said. “But, certainly, we are set on finding who is responsible.”

As of posting time, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

“The full investigation is already underway,” Valte said, explaining that she will not be able to discuss the details of the investigation and the leads being pursued by government forces.

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