Village chief killed in IED blast

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A barangay chairman was killed while a councilman was wounded when a bomb planted by the roadside exploded in Shariff Saidona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur yesterday.

Manot Silongan, chairman of Barangay Penditen in nearby Datu Salibo town, died at the scene.

Salik Datua, councilman of Barangay Ganta in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Col. Roel Rullan Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, said an improvised explosive device detonated using a mobile phone could have been used.

Probers said Silongan and Penditen had just emerged from the Ganta barangay hall when the explosion occurred.