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Death toll rises to 39 in Philippine bus bombings

OZAMIS, (Philippines): The death toll in separate bus bombings in the southern Philippines rose to 39 early Saturday as more bodies were recovered from the wrecks and those seriously injured died in hospitals, official said.

At least 34 of the dead were in buses and other vehicles traveling on a ferry where bombs exploded minutes before it was to dock Friday in Ozamis City, said city Mayor Benjamin Fuentes.

Five others were killed when a third bomb ripped through a bus at about the same time in another southern town in what appeared to be a "premeditated" attack, said Army Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, commander of the 1st Infantry Division. APP