An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Cagayan de Oro City around 1:50 a.m., leaving two dead bystanders and two injured policemen.
Police investigators revealed that the IED inside a plastic bag was seen lying outside the Maxandrea Hotel on JR Borja Street. Victoriano del Rosario, security guard of the establishment in front of the hotel, saw the suspicious package at around 1:00 a.m., and duly alerted the security guards of the hotel and the nearby lodge.
Apparently, Del Rosario called up the police after checking out the package which contained a casserole and a cellphone.
According to Inquirer News, two policemen responded to the phone call tip requesting for a bomb squad upon sighting of “a small metal container near the hotel” and several unidentified men acting suspiciously.
The two cops were wounded, including Police Officer 1 Dexter Dano, who sustained leg injury when the IED stuffed with nails exploded as they backed away from it.
One of the bystanders, who was 20 meters from the explosion site, died right away from the blast. Another one died later in the hospital. Chief Senior Superintendent Gerardo Rosales, of Cagayan De Oro City Police, reportedly identified the casualties as Rudy Jote and a certain ‘Toto’.
As of the moment, the authorities are still figuring out the motives and the people behind the explosion. Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) are also gathering up pieces of evidence to determine whether or not the explosive was remotely triggered.
Meanwhile, GMA News Online received a police report about another IED, containing “cellphone, five blasting caps, wires, battery and explosive material” found along a street near the hotel. The device was safely detonated by the authorities around 8:00 a.m. today. Authorities were able to identify two suspects based on CCTV footages.
Meanwhile, Chief Senior Superintendent Rosales negated the connection between the explosion and the Bangsamoro deal. He further asserted that it might be related to the Zamboanga Sibugay explosion yesterday.
According to an ABS CBN news report, an improvised explosive device went off Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay at around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10.
Lt. Col. Randy Cabangbang, Spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command Armed Forces, reported that the blast took place right in front of a clothing store close to the Barangay Poblacion commercial complex. The incident injured a 14-year-old boy.
Earlier that day, the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation reported that a grenade exploded in Zamboanga City at the corner of Camins and Nuñez streets causing minor injuries to two bystanders identified as Peter Carpio and Rudid Bejerano.
Reports contended that the explosion was politically motivated, and two suspects were already identified by police authorities.
