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By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY: A powerful bomb explosion ripped through a passenger bus on Sunday, November 6, and killed one civilian and injured at least 11 others in Tacurong City in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat.
The air-conditioned bus, owned and operated by Yellow Bus Line, came from Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province, and was carrying dozens of passengers when the bomb went off.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the midday blast in downtown Tacurong, but previous attacks had been largely blamed on local pro-Islamic State extremist groups.
It was unclear how the bomber was able to sneak the improvised explosive in the bus or what type of device was used in the attack.
In May this year, a bomb also exploded inside a Yellow Bus Line unit in downtown Koronadal City in South Cotabato province and injured at least two persons.
The improvised explosive went off at the engine bay of the bus.
Two drivers of motorcycle taxis tailing the bus were injured in the explosion.
The bus originated from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province.
No group had claimed responsibility for that attack, even after a bomb explosion in April also ripped through another provincial bus owned by Rural Transit of Mindanao in Parang town in Maguindanao province and wounded several passengers.
The attack happened in the village of Making where the bus made a stop at a roadside eatery.
The bus was on its way to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte from Cotabato City when a powerful explosion was heard.
In January, a bomb also exploded near a fruit stand and a ticket booth in North Cotabato's Tulunan town where a Yellow Bus Line was picking up passengers.
The powerful blast killed a civilian and wounded 7 others.
The blast came a day after pro-Islamic State terrorists detonated a roadside bomb in the town of South Upi in neighboring Maguindanao and killed one civilian.
The military blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for the bombing.
Maguindanao has been divided into the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
