ZAMBOANGA CITY, 9 May 2008 — A bomb explosion ripped yesterday through a commuter van depot in the southern Philippines, killing at least two people and wounding 8 others, officials said. Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a regional army spokesman, said the blast occurred amid a downpour at around 3 p.m. in the town of Midsayap in North Cotabato province. Ando said the van was loading passengers bound for Davao City when the explosion occurred. No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but Ando said criminal gangs extorting from provincial bus firms and traders were behind previous attacks.
