2016 Hilongos bombings explained

2016 Hilongos bombings
Partof:the Moro conflict
Location:Hilongos, Leyte, Philippines
Time:21:00
Timezone:PST
Type:Bombing
Fatalities:-
Injuries:35
Victim:-->
Weapons:Improvised explosive device
Numpart:-->
Dfen:-->

The 2016 Hilongos bombings occurred in Hilongos, Leyte, on December 28, 2016, at 9:00 p.m. (UTC +8), injuring 27 people.[1]

Explosion

The explosion occurred at the town plaza of Hilongos, near the town hall.[2] Prior to the explosion, a boxing event during the town's festival was in progress.[1] According to several reports, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) exploded during the match. The first explosion happened somewhere near a tent before the announcement of the winner of the match.[3] After few seconds, another IED was exploded.[3] One of the explosions was reportedly near a water pump at Rizal Plaza.[4]

According to Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla, in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, 27 people were confirmed injured,[1] mostly crowdgoers who watched the boxing match.[5] Two people were in critical condition.[1] The victims were brought to the Hilongos District Hospital and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital to be given medical treatment.[2]

Perpetrators

No individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.[6] President Rodrigo Duterte said on the same day of the blast, that the explosion was caused by rival drug syndicates involved in a turf war adding that Moros were also among the perpetrators. Duterte also stated that the attack could not be done by the New People's Army which had a ceasefire with the government at that time and reasoned that the communist group "has no record of throwing grenades at innocent people".[7] The Armed Forces of the Philippines later said in December 29, that the bombing in Leyte was made by the Maute Group.[8]

It was speculated that the bombings were a retaliation to the arrest of an alleged drug trafficker and financier of the Maute Group in a drug bust operation conducted in the same town about two months earlier, on October 22, 2016.[9]

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, also stated in December 29, that the bombs had "signature of the BIFF".

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 27 hurt in Leyte town plaza blast . . Gabieta . Joey A. . December 28, 2016 . December 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228221725/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/857517/27-hurt-in-leyte-town-plaza-blast . December 28, 2016 . Twenty-seven people were hurt in an explosion in the town plaza of Hilongos, Leyte, past 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Initial reports received by the Leyte governor said a boxing event was in progress as part of the town’s fiesta celebration when something exploded. The report received by Leyte Gov. Dominico Petilla showed that at least 35 were injured — two were in critical condition — during the bombing at Rizal Plaza in the town proper. Petilla’s office is still trying to verify reports that at least 10 people were killed. . dead .
  2. News: Dozens hurt in suspected IED blast in Hilongos, Leyte town feast. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229141614/http://interaksyon.com/article/135670/dozens-hurt-in-suspected-ied-blast-in-hilongos-leyte-town-feast. dead. December 29, 2016. Interaksyon. Sallada. Lottie. December 29, 2016. December 29, 2016.
  3. News: Visayas State University student Ritchmon Relente, who took the photograph posted in this story, said the explosion occurred near the tent right before the announcement of the winners of the boxing match. He said a second blast occurred seconds later. . 27 reported hurt in Leyte plaza blast . Rappler. December 29, 2016. December 29, 2016.
  4. News: Town fiesta blast injures at least 23 in Leyte . . December 29, 2016 . Meanwhile, Hilongos Mayor Alberto Villahermosa said the IED was left near a water pump at the Rizal Plaza where the boxing match was being held. . December 28, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228214634/http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2016/12/29/Hilongos-Leyte-fiesta-blast.html . dead .
  5. News: Explosion rocks Leyte festival. This was confirmed by Police Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio, provincial director of the Leyte police office. According to initial reports, several festival-goers were wounded by the blast. However, authorities have yet to release information regarding the victims. The blast occurred before a boxing event during the municipality's fiesta. . ABS-CBN News. December 28, 2016. December 29, 2016.
  6. News: Philippine: Blast during boxing match wounds at least 23 people . The Associated Press . The Associated Press . December 29, 2016 . . The wounded were brought to a hospital in Hilongos town in Leyte province following the explosion late Wednesday of what initially appeared to be a cellphone-detonated homemade bomb, regional army spokeswoman 1st Lt. Cherry Junia said. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228222546/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/philippine-blast-during-boxing-match-wounds-at-least-23-people/story-6nNDTU9yJbLTsp7EBGQkyJ.html . December 28, 2016 . dead .
  7. News: Ramos. Marlon. Duterte: Leyte bombing done by ‘Moros’ in turf war over drugs. 29 December 2016. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 29 December 2016.
  8. News: Zambrano. Chiara. Maute Group behind Leyte bombing: AFP. 29 December 2016. ABS-CBN News. 29 December 2016.
  9. News: Laude. Jaime. Leyte plaza blast: Maute or BIFF?. 29 December 2016. The Philippine Star. 30 December 2016.

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