NEWSFLASH

BUSES ON OZAMIS FERRY BOMBED, 20 DEAD

Zamboanga City, Feb. 26, 2000 - At least 20 persons were killed while many others were wounded when two bombs exploded inside two passenger buses aboard an Ozamis Oriental-bound ferry yesterday afternoon.

Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, chief of the Army 1st Division said the two Super 5 buses packed with passengers were aboard a barge of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) when the bombs exploded at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday in Kulambugan, Lanao del Sur.

The powerful explosion initially killed 16 of the passengers while many others were wounded.

Abaya said the blast ripped through the ceilings of the buses and most of the victims were thrown, while some of the passengers jumped overboard.

Police probers theorized that the bombs were planted among the passengers' baggage and set to explode while the barge was at sea.

"This is purely the handiwork of the extortion gang hitting transportation companies in Mindanao," Abaya said.

Elements of the 18th Infantry Battalion were immediately dispatched to hunt the suspects who were positively identified by some of the witnesses.