Alert passenger helps prevent bus bombing in S. Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY – Suspected extortionist planted an improvised bomb inside a Yellow Bus in South Cotabato but an alertcivilian helped prevent what could be a bloody Saturday when he alerted the driver and conductor of his unusual discovery.”

Supt. Jose Briones Jr, South Cotabato provincial police director, said bomb experts detonated the bomb which caused minor damages.After the passenger alerted the driver of his discovery, hedirected 23 passengers to slowly alight to avoid stampede inside the bus.Briones said
the improvised explosive device was fashioned from a fragmentation grenade with
mobile phone as triggering device.

Quoting
witnesses, Briones said a man alighted along the national highway before the
bus arrived at Sto Nino bus terminal at 10 a.m.
It came from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

He said the
man who disembarked vacated a seat at the rear portion where the box was found.

Briones said
the attack could be perpetrated by extortion groups preying on the bus firm.