| 32 hurt as bomb explodes inside bus in Digos City |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Thursday, 24 July 2008 | |
 A cellular phone triggered improvised explosive device (IED) went off inside a Metro Shuttle Bus ten minutes it parked at the New Satellite Terminal in this city.
The bomb ripped the left side of the bus wall and shattered almost all of its glass windows hurting 28 people, mostly passengers and some terminal vendors.
As of press time there were still no confirmed dead among the wounded victims.
Digos City Mayor Arsenio Latasa said the target of the bombing could be the bus itself, not the city. “If that bomb was intended for Digos City, the bombers could have done it during the eve of our Padigosan Festival on July 19,” Latasa said.
Major Lyndon Paniza, commanding officer of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) said the bombers could be members of an extortion group operating in Mindanao.
“As of now we are looking into the possibility that some extortion group could be the culprit because we knew that the operator of Metro Shuttle Bus is not giving up to their demands,” Paniza said.
Bomb technicians who went to the scene recovered some parts of the cellular phone used to trigger the IED during their initial investigation.
They have yet to probe the kind of EID was used as component of the bomb.
Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao said the police have been in heightened alert after receiving intelligence reports that a bombing spree would be launched by terror groups in key cities of Mindanao.
The identities of the bombers and the group behind the blast are yet to be established by the investigators.
As of press time, 23 of those who are wounded were brought to Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, Gonzales Medical Clinic, while others who are in critical condition were transported to Davao Medical Center in Davao City.
Governor Douglas Cagas who went to the hospital distributed the names of those who were confined at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital to the media.
LIST OF VICTIMS IN METRO SHUTTLE BOMBING INCIDENT JULY 24, 2008 11:45 AM BUS NUMBER 176 01. Radz Villamel Monforte 11 Christian Village, Digos City
02. Dexter Maldas 26 Digos City
03. PO1 Andres Alfonso 34 Padada, Davao del Sur
04. Zara Fe Abillero 20 Lim Extension Street, Digos city
05. Marjonaise Sanchez 26 Davao City
06. Christian Sanchez 04 Davao City
07. Donie Ray Simpion 22 Luna Street, Digos City
08. Zoila Chuchie Ganal 46 Bansalan, Davao del Sur
09. Angelita Gersalia 16 Emily Homes, Digos City
10. Matet Orbuda Dawis, Digos City
11. Jesus Berio 71, Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
12. Fedilito Recaña 21 Roxas Extension, Digos City
13. Roberto Doromal 111 38 Malita, Davao del Sur
14. Pinky Patalinghog 23 Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur
15. Vermie Lamas 21 Poblacion Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
16. Flor Ramay 42 North Cotabato
17. Myrna Parantar 52 Padada, Davao del Sur
18. Jane Monforte 31 Christian Village, Digos City
19. Ricardo Chiongson 64 Davao City
20. Flor Sevetania 38 Bansalan, Davao del Sur
21. Leonido Managuinot 68
22. Wendelyn Amad 17 Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
23. May Sanchez 26 Waling Waling, Davao City
24. Alfonso Rebuyon 56
25. Ian Dominique Alag 22 Lopez Jaena Street, Digos City
26. Ramil Ravina 33 Crumb Street, Digos City
27. John Mark Paciol Roxas Extension, Digos City
28. Ramon Crisologo 53 Rizal Avenue, Digos City
29. Catherine Pepito 27 Tres de Mayo, Digos City
30. Antonio Nacua, Jr. 31 Luna Extension, Digos City
31. Vic Anthony Febrero 23 Davao City
32. Lolito Satinigan 54
Source: City Disaster Coordinating Council
Digos City, Davao del Sur
Signed by: Reynaldo Caballero CDCC Executive Officer
Other passengers who are injured remained unidentified as of press time.
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