Philippines bomb kills three, injures 37

COTABATO CITY, Philippines, July 5 (UPI) -- A bomb detonated in a restaurant killing three and injuring 37 Sunday near a cathedral in Cotabato City, Philippines, authorities said.

Most of those killed and wounded were soldiers, Philippine armed forces Maj. Randolph Cabangbang told CNN.

The bomb exploded near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral while services were being held, but military officials said they believed the restaurant was the target.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front was investigating whether its members planted the bomb, the group's Web site said.

The Liberation Front, the Philippines largest Muslim separatist organization, has fought for decades for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.