At least six people were killed and almost 40 wounded in the Philippines when a bomb struck a restaurant in the southern port city of Cagayan de Oro on July 26.

AFP News Agency cited local police as saying the improvised explosive device went off around midnight at a popular restaurant. Most of the victims were doctors and pharmaceutical salesmen who had just attended a national convention of lung-disease specialists at a nearly hotel.

The six dead included local politician Roldan Lagbas, a member of the provincial executive board of Misamis Oriental province, police said.

According to witnesses, about 100 people were inside the restaurant when the explosion occurred. The explosion broke glass panels, upturned tables and chairs, and damaged cars parked up to 30 metres away.

Cagayan de Oro Deputy Mayor Ian Acenas said an investigation is under way to find out the motive of the bombing.-VNA