Manila - At least one person was killed and 36 injured on
Tuesday in a bomb explosion during a town festival in the southern
Philippines, the military and police said.
The explosion occurred near the municipal hall of Isulan town in
Sultan Kudarat province, 969 kilometres south of Manila, where people
were gathered for a celebration, said Brigadier General Cirilito
Sobejana, an army division commander.
Sobejana said civilians alerted soldiers to a man who allegedly left
a bag containing a home-made bomb near a motorcycle, and troops were
chasing after the suspect when the bomb went off.
"Despite our intensified checkpoint operations, there are many entry
points, thus the bomb courier was able to reach the area," he said.
At least one person was confirmed killed in the blast, while 36 were
rushed to hospital, said Senior Superintendent Noel Kinazo, the
provincial police chief.
Authorities have yet to identify a suspect in the bombing, but
militants allied with the Islamic State terrorist network have been
blamed for past bombings in the area.