Mayor, 3 Others Die in Philippine Blast

COTABATO, Philippines —  A bomb killed at least four people, including a town mayor, and wounded 11 in the southern Philippines on Christmas Eve, the military said.

The blast today was thought to be the work of Islamic separatists, officials said.

The bomb went off at the home of Mayor Saudi Ampatuan in the town of Datu Piang on Mindanao island, said army spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando. Ampatuan later died of injuries to his head and abdomen.

Also killed were a town councilor, the treasurer and a bodyguard, Ando said. Eleven people were injured.

The military suspects the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels because “it is only the MILF that is capable of making powerful homemade bombs,” Ando said.

But rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu denied involvement, saying the mayor had many personal and political enemies.

“There is no reason for us to do that because the mayor is not our enemy. In fact, many of those injured are my relatives,” he said.

Ando said army bomb experts were helping police determine the type of explosives used. The military has blamed the MILF for similar bombings in the area, in which mortar shells equipped with time devices were used.

The rebels, who have signed a truce with the government, have been fighting for Muslim self-rule in the southern Philippines for nearly three decades. But they are believed to be lacking the support of prominent Muslim families for their struggle.

The Philippines is mainly Christian.

The explosion occurred at a gathering honoring a dead relative of the mayor.

Ando said the blast appeared to be unrelated to the killing of Ampatuan’s younger brother, his brother’s wife and a friend during an altercation at a disco Saturday. The Ampatuans allegedly retaliated for that killing by ambushing two relatives of the suspects.

Ando said Ampatuan is a “nemesis” of the MILF who survived a rebel ambush with his father, Maguindanao province Gov. Andal Ampatuan, this year. Two of their bodyguards died in the attack.

Kabalu said the target of that ambush was the convoy’s armed escort.