14 killed in twin Jolo bombings

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — Two separate explosions believed to be carried out by the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group rocked downtown Jolo in Sulu yesterday, leaving at least 14 people dead and 75 injured, authorities said.

An official statement from Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Col. Rafael Abundabar pegged the fatalities at seven soldiers, a Special Action Force (SAF) commando and six civilians, and confirmed that at least 75 people were wounded.

Military and local government officials placed Jolo under lockdown to prevent further casualties and possible attacks by the terror group.

Malacañang condemned the bombings as it assured the public that efforts are underway to identify the people behind the incident.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the explosion incidents in Jolo, Sulu today, which left scores dead and wounded, including soldiers. We likewise condole with the families and loved ones of those who died in these tragic incidents. Authorities are now conducting an investigation, which includes identifying individuals or groups behind these dastardly attacks,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

He urged residents to stay vigilant and to report suspicious personalities and unattended items in their areas.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered the Bangsamoro regional police office to secure the area, hasten their investigation and make the perpetrators “accountable before the law.”

Initial investigation showed the first explosion occurred at 11:53 a.m., immediately damaging a military truck parked in front of the Paradise Food Shop along Serantes Street in Barangay Walled City, Jolo.

The explosion was believed to be caused by a motorcycle rigged with improvised explosive device (IED) that was left by an unidentified rider just moments before the bomb was set off.

Police investigators also recorded the second explosion at about 1 p.m., about 100 meters away from the first explosion site. At that time, responding military and policemen were still on-site.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, confirmed that four soldiers died on the spot from the first explosion and 18 others were injured.

It also damaged the M35 truck and the KM450 mini-truck of the 21st Infantry Battalion.

Mateo said in an AFP report that one of the soldiers saw a person leave the motorbike outside the grocery store “where there were a lot of people” including members of the military.

“It immediately detonated,” Mateo said.

According to provincial information officer Sonny Abbing, newly installed Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) and 11th Infantry Division chief Brig. Gen. William Gonzales was paying a courtesy call on Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sr. when the first explosion occurred.

The meeting was abruptly cut as Gonzales had to respond to the incident, he added.

“I was on the blast site when the second explosion occurred. I saw victims falling on the ground… most of them were responding police and military personnel,” Abbing said of the second explosion.

Vinluan confirmed that the second explosion occurred across a gas station on the same street where the motorcycle-rigged bomb exploded.

Mateo said the second blast was caused by a female suicide attacker who blew herself up as the police, who were cordoning off the area, prevented her from getting closer.

The soldier who stopped the attacker died in the incident.

Members of the scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) were gathering evidence to establish the identity of the suicide bomber.

According to Vinluan, the attack wounded six officers. A separate report from the Bangsamoro Regional Police Office said a Special Action Force (SAF) commando was killed and three others were wounded.

JTFS troops then were still extricating injured civilians, and were to bring them to the Military Station Hospital inside Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista for treatment.

Admiral George Ursabia, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, placed the units in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Zamboanga under heightened alert and instructed them to support the AFP and PNP.

Although those behind the attack have yet to be identified, earlier reports indicated that the Abu Sayyaf threatened to conduct suicide bombing attacks in metro Jolo.

Listed by the US as a terrorist organization, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of Islamic militants blamed for the Philippines’ worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries.

Yesterday’s explosions come after the arrest earlier this month of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Abduljihad Susukan, who is facing 34 criminal cases.

Attack condemned

Senators condemned the bombings and expressed their condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims.

Sen. Bong Go said the terrorist act did not distinguish innocent civilians from soldiers who were serving the country.

“These terrorists do not care about the place and time in sowing terror. We’re already in a crisis because of the pandemic and yet these terrorists continue to try to disrupt and destroy the lives of Filipinos,” Go said in a statement.

“I call on all agencies of government to ensure that those responsible for these acts of terrorism are held accountable for their actions. Let’s give justice to the innocent lives lost to this senseless terrorism,” he said.

The incident came just as the Commission on Appointments was holding confirmation hearings at the Senate on the promotion of Vinluan , chief of the Armed Forces Westmincom.

“I express my deepest grief about the soldiers and civilians killed in today’s twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu. I condole with the families and loved ones of the victims, and pray for the safety of all against those who want to sow violence and terror,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief Minister Hadji Ahod Ebrahim has directed the regional police to identify the culprits for prosecution.

“The BARMM leadership condemns these bombings in strongest terms. We also share with the grief of those who lost relatives in the incident,” said Naguib Sinarimbo, spokesman for the Bangsamoro regional government. – Alexis Romero, Neil Servallos, Michael Punongbayan, Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, John Unson