Twin roadside bombings injure 1 in south Philippines

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

One person was injured after two roadside bombs exploded minutes apart Wednesday in the troubled southern Philippines.

The Mindanews website reported that a man riding a motorcycle was hit by shrapnel from one of the blasts on a highway near a military post in the village of Muti on the outskirts of Zamboanga City.

Colonel Juvymax Uy, Task Force Zamboanga commander, was quoted by the Philippine Inquirer news website as saying “these explosions took place about 60 kilometers (37 miles) away from the city proper.”

Security forces reportedly also discovered and detonated a third explosive near the highway.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosions, which came a day before the inauguration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Several armed Muslim groups and a communist insurgency operate in conflict-ridden southern Mindanao island.

After the blasts, security forces cordoned off the highway and temporarily cut cell phone service to the area to prevent detonations of any other explosives.

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

One person was injured after two roadside bombs exploded minutes apart Wednesday in the troubled southern Philippines.

The Mindanews website reported that a man riding a motorcycle was hit by shrapnel from one of the blasts on a highway near a military post in the village of Muti on the outskirts of Zamboanga City.

Security forces reportedly also discovered and detonated a third explosive near the highway.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosions, which came a day before the inauguration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Several armed Muslim groups and a communist insurgency operate in conflict-ridden southern Mindanao island.

After the blasts, security forces cordoned off the highway and temporarily cut cell phone service to the area to prevent detonations of any other explosives.