Two killed, 4 wounded in explosion in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 16, 2009) – Two people were killed and four more wounded in an explosion late Monday at a beer joint in the largely Muslim province of Sulu in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the blast, blamed on the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group, occurred at around 8.45 p.m. in the capital town of Jolo. “The explosion targeted the beer joint,” said Chief Inspector Usman Pingay, the town’s police chief.

Pingay said they were investigating reports the explosion came from a bomb was planted in the place. “We are still waiting for more reports,” he told the Mindanao Examiner by phone from Jolo town.

He said they deployed additional police forces to patrol the town and guard vital government installation in Jolo, previously bombed by the Abu Sayyaf which is holding hostage three Red Cross workers – Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba since January 15.

“We have reports saying that the UTG was responsible for the attack,” Pingay said, referring to the urban terrorist group, a unit of the Abu Sayyaf.

But the military’s Western Mindanao Command said the explosion was from a grenade tossed by an unidentified man at the karaoke house owned by Eddie Feguracion. “The assailant fled (after the attack) and (is) still at-large,” said Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a regional army spokeswoman.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred after security forces clashed early today with the Abu Sayyaf group holding the aid workers.

An Abu Sayyaf commander, Albader Parad, was either wounded or killed in the fighting in the hinterlands of Indanan town, police and military said.

There were no reports about the fate of the captives. The Abu Sayyaf was reported to have demanded $10-million ransoms for the safe release of the hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)