An explosion rocked the town of placer Masbate several hours ahead of the visit and Cabinet meeting of President Arroyo Tuesday.
Police Officer 3 Romulo Balolo of the Placer police station said he recovered a detonating wire and shrapnel along the road that is 3.5 kilometers away from the town center. Police also recovered several cigarette butts and coffee cups, an indication that those who detonated the bomb had been there for quite a while.
Balolo said the explosion was possibly targeted at government forces coming in and out of the sleepy town to secure the visiting government officials. He believes the explosion was the handiwork of New People's Army rebels. Locals have told ABS-CBN News that the area is infested with rebels.
Placer is a fourth-class municipality and is one of the poorest towns in the province of Masbate. It is the first time in its history that the President is coming here for a visit.
The President is on a whirlwind trip of provinces in the country to check on the progress of her projects ahead of the coming State of the Nation Address.
After Masbate, the President is expected to drop by Romblon and stay for a few hours on board the BRP Ang Pangulo. Prior to her Masbate trip, the President greeted passengers of the inaugural PAL Express flight to Calbayog City in Eastern Samar.
During a press conference at the airport, Mrs. Arroyo said budget flights would help promote Samar as an eco-tourism destination and a model of biodiversity.
She ordered the release of P400 million for the province's various development projects.