Bomb blasts hit hotels in Iligan

DAVAO CITY – Three persons were injured after two bombs exploded in two hotels in Iligan City yesterday afternoon which authorities believed could be linked to the continuing opposition of residents to the city’s inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).

Col. Antonio Supnet, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, said the bombs exploded at around 5:30 p.m. at the Caprice Pension House along Badelles St. and Traveller’s Inn along Iligan’s national highway.

Supnet said three persons were injured in the twin bombings that were reportedly caused by explosive devices hidden inside packages that were left inside two rooms in the two hotels.

“Apparently, they were left by the people who checked in at the hotels,” Supnet told The STAR.

Yesterday’s bombings in Iligan were the latest in the spate of bombings that hit certain parts of Central Mindanao following the police and military offensive against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels last week.

Supnet said text messages were already circulating three weeks ago about the possibility of bombings of malls, churches and hotels.

“We have included it (threats of bombings) in our briefings that hotels and lodging inns would also be targets for such bombing activities,” Supnet said.

He said that immediately after the two bombings, authorities investigated another package left inside another room at Traveller’s Inn.

“We thought it was another bomb but the owner of the package claimed it afterwards,” Supnet said.

Military and police authorities are looking for other bombs that could possibly be planted in other areas in Iligan City. – With Lino de la Cruz