A hunt was underway for the suspects, the Philippine Daily Inquirer on-line news quoted Koronadal mayor Fernando Miguel as saying, without naming the suspects.

"I am not yet officially releasing a statement, regarding the suspect and who they may be. I have to make reservations. I don't want to divulge it at this time," Miguel said.

The police has released three sketches of the suspects, who were described as being between 15 to 20 years old.

Three people were killed and at least 25 others wounded Thursday when an improvised explosive device exploded at a video game stall near a public market in Koronadal, with casualties being mostly children.

The military had earlier said six were killed in the attack, but later revised the figure after collating reports from hospitals.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has strongly condemned the latest bombing incident and ordered a speedy probe, meanwhile stressing the incident would not affect the ongoing peace efforts in Mindanao in the south.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which was blamed by the military for past bombings, immediately denied involvement in the attack.

On May 10, an explosion, also caused by an improvised explosive device, ripped through another marketplace in Koronadal, leaving at least nine dead, and more than 20 injured.

The 12,000-strong MILF has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines since its establishment in 1978.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2003)