ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A minor was killed while his companion was wounded in an explosion that ripped through a coastal village in this city yesterday.
Ericson Bantuan, 12, died at the scene while Jovan Cadungog, 14, was taken to a hospital for treatment.
A third boy, who was not hurt in the explosion, reported the incident to his relatives.
Reports said the boys went to the beach in Barangay Rio Hondo to gather metal scraps and recyclable materials.
One of the boys found a rusty metal tube, which exploded after he tossed it into the seawall.
An object that looked like a safety pin was recovered near the victim’s body.
Probers said the explosion could have been caused by a fragmentation grenade.
The village was among four areas in the city where heavy firefights between the military and members of the Moro National Liberation Front occurred during the 2013 Zamboanga siege.