Cotabato City—A five-year-old boy was killed and seven others were wounded, including an infant, when a suspected pre-detonated bomb exploded mid-road inside a transit bus in Aleosan, Cotabato, authorities said Tuesday.
In between sobs, the father of Benjamin Solaiman said the five-year-old died hours later and was immediately discharged from the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) here for burial, in keeping with Muslim tradition of burying the dead within 24 hours.
Police said a Mindanao Star Bus unit, driven by Hubabib Michael Sochaysing, 36, of Davao City, was traversing the Aleosan section of the Cotabato-Davao national highway when a loud explosion was heard from inside the transit PUB at around 8:15 a.m.
Initial investigation revealed that a bomb had been probably placed underneath the second rearmost seat. Usually, a floor heating up is often unnoticed at foot sole level, from a rising temperature generated by the engine running at high speed and frequency, just below the rearmost seat, the police explained.
As of press time, investigators still could not disclose what type of explosive went off inside Mindanao Bus No. 1551, pending further technical assessment of the fragments and pieces of post-explosion debris recovered from the scene.
Visibly frightened passengers emerging from the scene said the bus left Davao City early dawn for Cotabato City. Others turned suspicious
of a passenger who, they said, rode the bus from Kabacan town and alighted in Pikit, both in Cotabato province.
Authorities and rescuers among residents later identified the wounded passengers as Masid Piang, 25, single, a resident of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao; Haron Solaiman Sr., 24, married; Yustira Solaiman 3 years; Hailan Solaiman, five months old—all from of Kabacan; Rodolfo Castillo, 67, from Toril Davao City; and Lester Alkane Bautista, 17, of Pikit.
The wounded passengers were rushed to Aleosan District Hospital and later, to Cotabato Regional Medical Center here.