2 soldiers hurt in early morning explosion in Masbate

At least two soldiers were reported wounded in an explosion in Masbate province in the Bicol Region early Friday. Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported that the military suspects communist New People's Army rebels were behind the blast. Initial reports reaching Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman for the Army's 9th Infantry Division, indicated the injured soldiers were deployed to Masbate province for the Oct. 25 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections. The soldiers were passing Uson town on their way to their area of assignment in Cawayan town aboard an Elf-type truck when a land mine exploded. The two injured soldiers were hit by shrapnel, Cabunoc said. State security forces have beefed up their presence in some areas in time for next week's polls. — RSJ, GMANews.TV