Blasts hit Mindanao again, 6 people dead, over 40 injured

MANILA, Philippines – Two separate bombings in Jolo and Iligan City on Tuesday morning killed six people and injured around 40 others, including state security personnel, officials said.

Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said the first explosion occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday in Poblacion village in front of the Go Teck Leng Hardware along Sanchez Street in Jolo.

Roughly three hours after the explosion in Jolo, another IED went off in Iligan City, wounding seven people including two soldiers, police said.

The blasts were the latest in a fresh wave of bombings in the volatile southern Philippines. A ranking military official, however, expressed doubts whether the incidents were related.

On Sunday morning, an improvised explosive device (IED) planted at a lechon (roasted pig) house in front of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cotabato City, killing five people and injuring 29 others.

The night before, another blast caused by a 60-millimeter mortar explosive in Barangay Buayan in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province injured three people.

Sulu blast

Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, a public information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for Western Mindanao, said the IED was placed "inside" a motorcycle parked about 100 meters away from a Catholic church in downtown Jolo where a Mass was just held.

Gucela said investigators likewise recovered two unexploded IEDs, each placed in a cardboard box also around 100 meters away from the church.

According to Gucela, the blast killed six people and wounded about 40 others. A sketchy report from Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) operations chief Superintendent Danilo Bacas said a policeman was among those hurt in the explosion.

Bacas said the Sulu cathedral is located across the street where the explosion occurred. "Nasa kabilang kalye po ang simbahan [pero] medyo malayo [The cathedral is located across the street but it is somewhat far (from the blast site)]."

Philippine Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said most of the wounded victims in the Jolo blast were in critical condition.

"Our initial report showed that a motorcycle parked near the store allegedly with wire connected on it was noticed, prompting concerned citizens to report the sightings to the police. An explosion followed just as policemen were responding to the information," Arevalo said in a text message to reporters.

Another in Iligan City

Northern Mindanao police director Chief Superintendent Danilo Empedrad said the Iligan City blast occurred at 10:50 a.m. along Sabayle Street near the city pier.

Initial reports said the IED was placed inside a vehicle parked right beside a mini-cruiser belonging to the Philippine Army, Empedrad said.

Citing initial reports, Lt. Col. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 43rd Infantry Battalion, said 11 people – eight civilians and three soldiers – were wounded in the blast.

Uy, however, speculated that the soldiers were likely not the target of the blast, as they might have gone to the area to purchase something or have an appliance repaired.

"I think may bibilihan sila or most likely magpapa-repair ng TV kasi mga service center ito ng mga appliance, yung mga tabi-tabi…I think coincidental lang siguro, kasi, collateral damage siguro, kasama lang sila, kasi intended talaga sa area na ‘to na paputukin siguro," Uy said.

[I think they were about to buy something or have a TV set repaired because there is an appliance service center around the area... I think their involvement was just coincidental, collateral damage perhaps, because the perpetrators probably meant to target the area.]

Uy said Scene of the Crime Operatives are still investigating the bomb that was used to enable authorities to determine who might have been responsible for the blast.

GMANews.TV