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Cotabato Philippine National Police spokesman Roel Zafra said the blast took place at 1:50pm local time. The explosion rocked the city as it prepared for its New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Two people have been pronounced dead, while another 32 injured people were rushed to a variety of hospitals, including the Cotabato Medical Specialist Hospital, Maternity Hospital and Cotabato Medical Center Hospital.
Zafra said initial investigations have revealed that an unidentified male dropped a wrapped box in the area. Local reports saud that seconds later, the box exploded. The PNP said the type of explosive is yet to be determined but that it was dropped in the mall’s baggage area.
Police are trying to determine "if the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device or illegal powerful firecrackers that accidentally went off in the area."
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Cotabato Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said, "I strongly condemn the bombing incident that happened in front of South Seas Mall today, a day before the New Year, the took away several innocent lives and injured dozen others. This is not just another terroristic act but an act against humanity. I cannot fathom how such evil exists in this time of merry making."