Bomb blast kills boy, wounds five in S Philippines

A seven-year old boy was killed and five others injured when a improvised explosive device (IED) exploded Monday evening near a police outpost in southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, officials said.

Musib Uy, Datu Piang town municipal administrator, told reporters that Moktar Masdal was killed in the blast around 7:30 p. m. while the wounded were rushed to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center here. They were named as Nasser Kempao, the district supervisor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao; Yusof Agumbasi, principal of Datu Gumbay Elementary School; Manuel Agumbasi, 11; Manzal Pigasan, 12; and Majib Mandal, 9.

"Out cops are still determining the type of explosive used. They are also investigating to determine the perpetrators," Uy said.

The homemade bomb was placed inside a bag and was left by unknown men in front of the outpost beside the town hall, Daniel Pumecha, town police chief, said.

Lt. Col. Benjie Hao, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said they dispatched additional soldiers to secure the town as well help track down the attackers.

"We have received reports that the suspects fled on board a black motorcycle. We established checkpoints on the roads leading to and from Datu Piang," Hao said.

Source: Xinhua