Hanoi (VNA) – At least 22 people werewounded in a series of explosions that rocked southern areas of the Philippineson December 22.
The first blast occurred in Cotabato city when amilitary truck was hit by grenades, injuring 12 people, including eightsoldiers.
Six civilians were also seriously wounded when ahomemade bomb went off in the neighboring Libungan town in Cotabatoprovince only minutes after the Cotabato cityattack.
Another blast occurred in Maguindanao town on the same day.
Philippine officials said the attackshave been linked tothe self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).
The blasts occurred at a time when Philippine military officers have proposedlifting martial law imposed in the southern region since 2017 due to the improvedsecurity situation in the country./.