7 soldiers hurt in roadside bombing in NCotabato

MAKILALA, North Cotabato - Seven soldiers, including an official, were injured in roadside landmine blast in this town Tuesday evening, police said. “The victims are on the way to their camp in Barangay (village) Old Bulatukan after playing basketball when the military truck they were riding accidentally hit the explosive," said Chief Inspector Jerson Birrey, the town’s chief of police. The explosion occurred at about 6 p.m. in Barangay Old Bulatukan, some 150 meters away from the military camp. Hurt in the incident were Cpl. Geruel Hipe; Pfc. Levie Faranal; Pfc. Josel Miravalles; Pfc. Ariel Tambagan; Pfc. John Edward Tangub and Pfc. Jester Pancho, all members of the 57th Infantry Battalion Bravo Company of the Philippine Army. The company's commanding officer, who has yet to be identified as of posting time, was hit by a shrapnel in the shoulder. Birrey said the wounded soldiers were brought to the Makilala Medical Specialist Center where they were pronounced out of danger. Bomb experts in North Cotabato recovered some electrical wires, masking tapes and pieces of shrapnel from the blast site. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. - Williamor Magbanua/KBK, GMANews.TV