Three construction workers were hurt in a blast in a private resort that is undergoing construction in Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

The blast was believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Police are investigating on whether the IED was hurled into the barracks of the construction workers or placed in the area beforehand.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak reached out to the construction workers at their barracks, but was refused an interview.

It was learned that two of three workers rushed to the hospital are residents of Bindoy town in Negros Oriental, while the other is from Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City.

The 32-year-old worker from Bindoy needs to undergo surgery, as of posting time, after he sustained injury on the abdomen.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, spokesperson of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said that none of the construction workers saw of the actual blast, but heard of a loud thud. Later, their companions were found injured.

Torres said that the police have carried out post-blast investigation to help determine the type of device used, the intensity of the explosion, the fragments used, among other concerns.

He also said that the incident could have stemmed from a land dispute.

“Wala kadawat ang pikas party nga ang usa ka party nakadaug na sa litigation, mao tong nag-construct sa private resort. Napagan lang ang mga construction worker,” Torres explained.