One Philippine soldier was killed today and 14 people were wounded when a bomb exploded in a store selling candles in the mainly Christian southern city of Zamboanga, a senior police official said.
The blast occurred at an open-air shrine to the patron saint of Zamboanga, Our Lady of Del Pilar.
Most of the wounded were candle sellers, Chief Inspector Jose Bayuni Gucela said. Hundreds of devout Catholics visit the shrine on Sundays. The bomb had been concealed in a bag left at the candle store, Gucela added.
It was the second fatal blast in four days in Zamboanga City. Last Thursday suspected Islamic radicals bombed its main bazaar, killing seven people and wounding more than 160.
