Police secure a blast site at a bus terminal in Zamboanga City on Friday. A strong explosion caused by an improvised explosive device wrecked a passenger bus originating from Barangay Labuan, killing an 11-year-old girl and leaving 32 others injured. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Police has started a 24-hour security patrol around Zamboanga city following a bus explosion that left a girl dead and 33 others injured on Friday afternoon.
According to Superintendent Glenn Dulawan, Pagadian City police chief, tighter security is being implemented around the city, particularly in public areas.
Dulawan said aside from the 24-hour security patrols, additional checkpoints have been installed in areas leading to the city and more policemen have been deployed in bus terminals.
He added that policemen deployed in bus terminals will inspect the passengers’ bags and luggages as part of the stricter security measures due to Friday’s bombing.
A bomb exploded inside the bus of the D’ Biel Transit Company while parked at a transport terminal at past 2 p.m. Friday.
Five individuals, who were found with wires in their bags, have been taken into police custody.
Mayor Beng Climaco said on her Facebook account that the incident was being investigated as an act of extortion.
In January, another bus exploded in the outskirts of Zamboanga City, which police readily blamed on al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militants.
Double murder and frustrated multiple murder charges were filed against the suspects, who used a car rigged with an improvised explosive devise to blow up the bus. (MNS)