INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Explosions in Central Mindanao Leave Two Dead And

Published: Thu 10 Aug 2006 10:09 AM
VZCZCXRO6650
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #3369 2221009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101009Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2444
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANILA 003369
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC PREL KISL MOPS RP
SUBJECT: EXPLOSIONS IN CENTRAL MINDANAO LEAVE TWO DEAD AND
AT LEAST FOUR WOUNDED
REF: A. MANILA 3352
B. MANILA 3344
C. MANILA 2944
1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.
2. (SBU) An explosion from a hand grenade occurred at
approximately 1:55 p.m. local time at the main gate of the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor's Office
in Cotabato City, reportedly killing two people and wounding
at least two. There were no Americans among the casualties.
The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the
Philippines 6th Infantry Division, and GRP Coordinating
Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities are on the scene
investigating the explosion.
3. (SBU) At around 2:30 p.m. local time, two explosions
occurred almost simultaneously in Kidapawan City of North
Cotabato Province. There were no reported injuries from the
first bombing near the AJ Hi-Time Hotel on Palridel Street.
The second bombing in front of the Sugne-Superstore on Quezon
Blvd left two injured. Both blasts were from the same type
of improvised explosive device. There were no Americans
among the injured.
4. (SBU) Comment: Current indications are that the bombings
in Cotabato and Kidapawan were unrelated. GRP contacts
suspect that the bombing at the ARMM compound in Cotabato was
connected to the ongoing feud between the Ampatuan Clan and
elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). They
attribute the two bombings in Kidapawan to the New People's
Army. We anticipate that neither incident will have an
impact on GRP-MILF peace negotiations.
Jones
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