The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday that the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group could be behind the simultaneous bombings in three cities in Mindanao on Wednesday.

PNP chief Oscar Calderon was quoted by ANC news network as saying that the bombings that killed at least seven people and wounded dozens were aimed at embarrassing the government as it hosts a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"They were trying to send a message," Calderon said. "They wanted to embarrass the government because of the meetings in Cebu."

Calderon, who is overseeing security preparations for the 12th ASEAN Summit, said the bombings in Mindanao will not happen in Cebu province.

Calderon said at least 6,000 policemen will provide security for local and foreign delegates in Cebu. He said the PNP, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, is already coordinating with its counterparts in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia to detect possible attacks to the summit.

The first explosion hit Wednesday a lotto betting station in General Santos city, killing seven people and injuring 26 others. Two more bombs exploded in Kidapawan and Cotabato cities within four hours after the first explosion, injuring four people.

Source: Xinhua