Blast rocks Basilan hostel; 2 other bombs defused

LAMITAN, Basilan, Philippines  — An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded and destroyed a small lodging house here last Saturday night, but no one was reported hurt.

Investigators said a second bomb was found a few hours later at a hotel in nearby Isabela City while another IED was discovered near a school in Lamitan yesterday morning.

Directorate Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) for Western Mindanao director Chief Superintendent Felisicimo Khu said still unidentified suspects detonated the bomb at Spasky’s Lodging House along Flores Street in Barangay Maligaya, Lamitan.

Investigators said another improvised bomb was discovered near the Sofia Hotel in Isabela City.

Police said another IED was found on a garbage heap near the Lamitan Central School yesterday morning.

Khu said members of the bomb disposal unit found traces of ammonium and fuel oil planted by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group. A cellular telephone detonated the bomb.

Khu told The STAR that they are looking at extortion as possible motive for the bombing.

“If you will check the explosive used this was the work of the Abu Sayyaf and based on our investigation extortion could be the motive in incident,” Khu said.

Khu confirmed that before the explosion, a group of armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits demanded P30,000 cash from Spasky’s Lodging House owner Jose Tejada who refused to give in to the demands of the suspects.

Initial reports said before the explosion two men arrived and registered at the lodging house. One of the men was carrying a green plastic bag.

The loud explosion occurred after the two men checked out from the inn at around 7 p.m.

Khu said there were no reported casualties but the establishment made of concrete and wood was destroyed.

He said the police and military have beefed up security at the port, churches, at the park, and public places.

Lamitan police commander Chief Inspector Edwin Placio said initial investigation revealed that the suspects in the lodging house bombing were described to between the ages of 18 to 21 years and standing 5 feet and 4 inches and they both had a Yakan accent.

“After paying their room rental the suspects left the inn and minutes after their departure the explosion occurred,” Placio said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard commandant Wilfredo Tamayo ordered PCG operating units nationwide to be extra vigilant following the discovery of explosive devices in Basilan.

Tamayo ordered all Coast Guard officials and personnel to intensify security measures in all ports and ferry terminals in the country as thousands of ship passengers are expected to flock to the provinces for the Holy Week and summer vacation.

The PCG launched last week “Oplan Mahal na Araw 2011.”

Tamayo said at 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, the Coast Guard K9 unit responded to the request of local Philippine National Police after they found suspicious baggage in front of Sofia Hotel in Isabela City, Basilan.

He said the K9 team checked the baggage and found a 1-gallon container filled with black powder, blasting caps and nails.

He said the container was declared positive for explosive and the K9 immediately conducted paneling around the area.

“The PNP EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) immediately defused the bomb and the area was declared safe,” Tamayo said. – With Roel Pareño, Helen Flores, AP