Homeland Security

DATE=12/24/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / BOMB (L)

NUMBER=2-297748

BYLINE=HEDA BAYRON

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: At least four people have been killed, including a town mayor, by a bomb in the southern Philippines. Heda Bayron has more on the story from V-O-A's Asia News Center.

TEXT: The blast tore apart the home of Mayor Saudie Ampatuan, in the town of Datu Piang in the southern province of Maguindanao.

He and his supporters were gathering Tuesday in honor of a dead relative. A town councilor, the town treasurer and a bodyguard died in the blast, along with the mayor. Several other people were wounded.

Military authorities are blaming the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front or M-I-L-F for Tuesday's bombing. A military spokesman said only the M-I-L-F had the skills to make bombs like the one used in the attack.

The M-I-L-F, which is currently holding peace negotiations with the Philippine government, denies the accusations.

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Eid Kabalu, an M-I-L-F spokesman, says authorities should first investigate the incident before laying blame on the group.

The M-I-L-F has been fighting for a separate Islamic state in the predominantly Christian Philippines for nearly three decades. It signed a cease-fire with the Philippine government last year but clashes erupt periodically despite the truce.

Political rivals have targeted the mayor's family over the past few years. Mr. Ampatuan's father, who is the provincial governor, has survived a number of attacks - the latest was an ambush last year. Last week, the mayor's brother was shot in a nightclub. (Signed)

NEB/HK/HB/KPD/MAR