A 20-year-old woman was wounded when an improvised explosive device exploded and hit the bus she was riding on the national highway in Carmen, North Cotabato, yesterday morning.

Police Regional Office 12 director Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele said the bomb exploded as a Rural Transit bus (KVS 690) with body no. 2930 was passing along the highway in Bgy. Cadiis, Carmen, at 6:10 a.m. yesterday.

He said one Hazel Degamo, of New Compostela, Damulog, Bukidnon, was hit in her forehead by splinters from the shattered glass windows of the bus and was taken to a local health center.

Mantele said their initial investigation showed that the bus came from Cagayan de Oro City and was bound for Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat. He said the improvised explosive device fashioned out from a mortar round went off while the bus was passing, slightly damaging the front and left sides of the vehicle and injuring Degamo.

He said the unnamed bus driver just went on despite the explosion and stopped in the nearby Bgy. Malapag where he sought the help of the local village chief who in turn called up the police.

Combined elements of the Carmen Municipal Police Station and the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion rushed to the scene to investigate and determine the motive of the attackers.

He said local policemen recovered mortar fragments at the scene and brought the bus to the Carmen Municipal Police Station.

North Cotabato police director  Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas said they are looking into the possibility that the explosion was the handiwork of ‘extortionists’ who are known for targeting bus companies which refuse to heed their extortion demands.

“The bomb was detonated while the Rural Transit bus was passing. This has been the signature of the bombers in the past who apparently want to send a message to the bus company,” Salinas said.

He said the Rural Bus Company completely denied any attempt to extort money from them in the past.