MANILA, Philippines (6th UPDATE) – Ten people are reported dead and 20 wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded during a fiesta celebration in Hilongos, Leyte, Wednesday evening, December 28, Malacañang said. "Ten have been reported dead, 20 injured, according to [Social Welfare] Secretary Judy Taguiwalo," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement sent to reporters around 1 am Thursday, December 29. Abella earlier said that 27 people were reported injured in the blast. First Lieutenant Cherry Junia, public affairs officer of the military's 8th Infantry Division said the IED exploded in the vicinity of barangay Central Poblacion in Hilongos town during a boxing event held as part of the fiesta celebrations in the town. "Initial investigation disclosed that the suspected IED was cellphone detonated," said Junia. REPORTS OF DEATHS. At least 6 are reported dead on a social media post. Screen shot from Facebook. At least 23 were brought to the Hilongos District Hospital for immediate medical treatment, the military officer said. Visayas State University student Ritchmon Relente, who took the photograph posted in this story, said the explosion occured near the tent right before the announcement of the winners of the boxing match. He said a second blast occurred seconds later. On Thursday, December 29, state-run PTV4 tweeted that "at least 19 are confirmed dead" in the incident. http://www.rappler.com/nation/156881-explosion-leyte-fiesta
Typical of reporting and false reports here re. OP. Taguiwalo: Reported deaths on Leyte blast 'false alarm' Thursday, December 29, 2016 By RUTH ABBEY GITA SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Thursday apologized over "false" report that there were at least 10 individuals killed in a bomb explosion in Leyte on Wednesday night. In a text message sent to reporters, Taguiwalo admitted that the death toll was "unofficial." "The earlier report that 10 persons [have been killed] was false alarm," said Taguiwalo. "Sorry, the information sent to me last night and forwarded to [Spokesperson] Abella was unofficial." Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella early Thursday said Taguiwalo had told him that there were 10 people reported dead and 20 other injured in an explosion at the town plaza of Hilongos, Leyte during a boxing match Wednesday night. Taguiwalo said 33 people were injured - 23 were treated at the Hilongos Hospital and 10 were rushed to the Baptist Hospital. The Philippine National Police identified the injured victims as John Reynal Lamo, 15; Vicente Nunez, 24; Jessica Geli, 19; Mary Aves, 31; Ricardo Regaton, 53; Jun Rey Lumbre, 20; Domingo Oliva, 60; Kevin Manicar, 13; Cristita Ano-os 47; Jay Miguel Liba, 15; Christian Lelis, 14; Leticia Liba, 55; Erwin Liba, 33; Rudy Bulfa, 33; Giselle Managbanag, 25; Edgar Acsol, 56; Elmer Rebullos, 27; King Michael Melgazo, 15; Leonilo Villaro, 28; Doroteo Libres, 50; Roselyn Lasmarias, 42; Wilbert Fornis Alingasa, 14; Guillermo Solera; Rogelio Managbanag, 26; Banoy Abes, 31; Mamilo Macarat Iusuegro; Chris Angel Abina, 7; Jessie Abina, 32; and Marcelina Abina, 67. In an interview via Facebook, couple Bohbie and Ruth Flores, residents of the said town, said they were near the area when the blast happened. "The explosion happened at 9:05, based on my watch. I was near the area. I responded immediately when I reached the hospital. The total casualties are 33, all minor injuries. A child, an old lady and a pregnant woman were some of those injured," said Bohbie, who is a service representative at the Philippine Red Cross-Hilongos Chapter . "My husband and I were going to LandBank to withdraw some money, which is located beside the municipal hall entrance. We were caught in traffic upon passing by Plaza Rizal because there were many people. We heard an explosion after 15 seconds upon reaching LandBank. I thought that it was just a transformer that exploded. People were running when I looked outside. My husband tried to ask people what happened but nobody answered him," Ruth said in vernacular. "There was another explosion after six seconds. It was not that loud so we drove away from the people. We heard another explosion again in Eskina Sa Buwan (name of street). We received calls that many were injured," she added. The Police Provincial Office-Eastern Visayas have deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Scene of the Crime Operatives teams to process the blast site. Police investigation is ongoing to know who was behind the bombing. (Sunnex) http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/lo...eported-deaths-leyte-blast-false-alarm-517359
Good to read that there were "officially" no deaths, and that the injuries were all apparently minor.
