Philippines hit by three blasts
bbc.co.uk
February 14, 2005
Excerpt:
At least seven people have died and dozens have been injured after a trio of bomb attacks in the Philippines.
A bus is reported to have exploded in central Manila, shortly after two other blasts in the south of the country.
The separatist group Abu Sayyaf, which is currently fighting Philippines troops on the island of Jolo, said it was responsible for the explosions.
A rebel spokesman reportedly told local radio the attacks were a "Valentine's gift" to President Gloria Arroyo.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye described the bombings as "despicable acts", and warned that the Philippines needed to "brace itself against these attacks on our freedom and security".
One blast happened in General Santos City, when a bomb destroyed a parked motorcycle taxi outside a shopping mall, killing at least three people.
There was a loud explosion... The ground was shaking. People were screaming and running in all directions," a witness told Reuters news agency.
National police chief Edgar Aglipay said the bomb was believed to have been stashed in a bag at a taxi stand near the entrance to the mall.
Almost simultaneously, a bomb exploded at a bus terminal in Davao City. A 12-year-old boy is reported to have died in the attack.
Davao's mayor Rodrigo Duterte called it "the handiwork of terrorists", and vowed to "track the killers down".