Bomb blast death toll rises

The death toll from a Christmas Eve bomb attack outside the home of the Mayor of a town in the southern Philippines rose to 16 today, as authorities searched for clues in the blast.

Fifteen others were wounded in the explosion, in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province.

The army said a Muslim rebel suspect had been arrested, but police denied it and said it was not yet clear if separatist guerrillas, who have been fighting for self-rule in the region for three decades, were responsible.

Army spokesman Major Julieto Ando said a suspected member of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front was detained in Datu Piang, where the bomb, made out of an 81 mm mortar filled with nail fragments, killed the mayor, Saudie Ampatuan, and 15 others.

But regional police commander Acmad Omar denied there had been an arrest. He said investigators were also looking into the possibility that clan fighting was behind the attack.

“We cannot say yet (if the MILF was behind it),” Omar said. “Our investigation is not yet finished. We are looking at different angles and definitely the MILF angle is one of them.”

Omar said the death toll rose to 16 after three victims died in hospital.

Officials also received information on four more injured, including a policeman, who were not taken to hospitals, taking the number of wounded to 15, he said.

Ando said a witness living near the site of the blast – about 100 yards outside Ampatuan’s residence – allegedly saw a follower of a MILF commander, identified only as Rambo, planting the remote-controlled device.

“I received information that one suspect was arrested and is undergoing investigation now,” he said, without giving other details.

Hours after yesterday’s blast, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied involvement, saying the mayor had many personal and political enemies.

Among those killed were a town councillor, the treasurer and a bodyguard.

The isolated, impoverished region of the southern Philippines is home to the predominantly Christian country’s Muslim minority.

Most of the victims, including the mayor, were Muslims.

Ando said suspicion fell on the MILF, fighting for Muslim self-rule despite a shaky 1997 truce, because the rebels had used similar explosives in past attacks. He said the mortar bomb was filled with powder nitrate, nail fragments and other pieces of metal.

In response to the attack, Ando said a battalion of about 500 soldiers was deployed to Datu Piang after MILF guerrillas were seen near the area.

The Muslim insurgency began three decades ago. Peace talks were suspended in October but are expected to resume next month in Malaysia.

Some military and government officials have accused the MILF of supporting the terrorist activities of the smaller but more violent Muslim extremist group, Abu Sayyaf. MILF leaders have denied any links.