The death toll from the powerful motorcycle bomb blast Tuesday afternoon in the restive southern Philippines has risen to two, while eight others were wounded, officials said.

A homemade bomb fashioned from four 81-milimeter mortar shells exploded in front of a gun shop around 2:15 p.m. along Quezon Avenue in the southern Philippine city of Cotabato, leaving two people dead, said administrator Atty. Cynthia Guiani Sayadi.

The blast left one dead on the spot while another passed away in hospital. The wounded were eight other civilians.

Lt. Col. Prudensio Asto, a regional military spokesman, told reporters a motorcycle packed with a homemade bomb exploded at CWAT gun store. The bomb had a mobile phone that served as the triggering device.

The use of mortar rounds in the manufacture of improvised bombs is a known signature of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is negotiating a peace accord with the Philippine government.

"Our technical investigation shows that the explosives were kept inside the single motorcycle," Asto said. "We cannot say what group were behind the attack until our bomb experts finish their investigation."

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, which occurred during the second day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan -- a holy festival among Filipino Muslims in the country's south.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet