Two bombs found on bus in southern Philippines

Two bombs were found on board a bus in the southern Philippines Tuesday, the latest incident in a spate of bombings and attempted bombings that have shaken the region, police said.
The bombs, made out of 60mm mortar shells with timing devices and hidden inside a carton, were found on a commuter bus in the city of Pagadian on the island of Mindanao, said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Ramon Ochotorena.
A bus conductor spotted the bomb during a routine inspection of the vehicle just before it left the terminal.
A military explosives team disabled the bombs.
Ochotorena refused to speculate on who planted the bombs or whether they were connected to several bombing incidents in Mindanao in recent weeks.
Last week, bombs ripped through two department stores in Iligan City, killing two people and wounding at least 36. An unexploded bomb was found near the scene a day later.
Bombs have also exploded in the cities of Cotabato and Isulan, all in Mindanao, earlier this month.
Officials have blamed Muslim separatist guerrillas for some of the bombings but the rebels have denied the allegations.