File photo of the ill-fated passenger bus. ((Photos courtesy of Mhen Maslamama/Jess Ali) ALEOSAN, North Cotabato - Police authorities are hunting down a local terrorist group believed to be behind the bombing here of a Mindanao Star Bus (MSB) that left one child dead and six others wounded. Lt. Colonel Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson, said police probers and the Special Investigation Task Force (STIG) are zeroing in on the "Al-Khobar" extortion gang, which is said to be behind the January 11 bus bombing in Barangay San Mateo of this town. Tayong, also deputy police provincial director, said there were pieces of evidence showing that the bombing was the handiwork of extortion groups preying on the bus firm. He said the style of attack and the explosive used showed some "signatures" of Al-Khobar, a local extortion group that also prey on multi-national firms operating in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Al-Khobar was blamed for the series of bus bomb
HEIGHTENED ALERT. A uniformed police officer inspects one of the Mindanao Star Bus units in Pikit, North Cotabato on Thursday (Jan. 13, 2022) following the bombing of another bus Tuesday that killed a 5-year-old boy on Tuesday (Jan. 11, 2022). The provincial police office has also placed maximum safety measures across North Cotabato to protect civilians. (Photo courtesy of North Cotabato PPO) PIKIT, North Cotabato - Police authorities have intensified their campaign against lawlessness and terrorism here and nearby towns after separate attacks in the towns of Aleosan and Pikit earlier this week. Lt. Col. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson, said Thursday maximum safety measures are in place to prevent similar attacks in the province. Tayong said extortion is eyed as the possible motive in the bombing of Mindanao Star bus on Tuesday that killed a 5-year-old boy and injured six others, including other children aged 5-months-old and 3-year-old in Aleosan, North Cotabato. On
Dennis Denora, a Sun.Star reporter and publisher of the Trends and Times community paper, has been shot dead by unidentified killers, according to the Davao chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
Denora was killed near the wet market of Panabo City in Davao Del Norte on Thursday afternoon, NUJP Davao says.
The Davao del Norte Press & Radio-TV Club says in a statement that is is angered and saddened by news of the killing.
"His death awakens the anger and pains of journalists who do their job and yet are being judged by the pistol," the group also says.