Explosion rocks Zambo Sibugay fiscal's house

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A bomb exploded inside the residential compound of the provincial prosecutor of Zamboanga Sibugay in Ipil town last Thursday night, police said.

The explosion was the third to rock the province since Monday when an improvised bomb and a grenade went off in two other towns, leaving one dead and five others wounded.

Senior Superintendent Ruben Cariaga, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said Thursday’s blast rocked the residential compound of lawyer Jeric Salarde Cagaoan, provincial prosecutor of Zamboanga Sibugay, in Purok Jerusalem, Barangay Don Andres.

He said no one was reported injured in the explosion that occurred at around 7:40 p.m. Thursday.

Police and military explosive ordnance and disposal experts who responded to the blast said the improvised bomb went off at the perimeter fence of Cagaoan’s house.

Police authorities could not immediately say if Cagaoan was the target of the attack.

But security for Cagaoan and his family has been beefed up, Cariaga said.

Police have stepped up security in the province when an improvised explosive went off last Monday near the house of businessman Dondon Castillo in Barangay Poblacion, Titay town. No one was hurt in the blast, which authorities believe was meant to harass him into giving in to extortion demands. 

Meanwhile, a grenade was lobbed in a peryahan (village carnival) past 2 a.m. Wednesday in Imelda town that left one dead and five others wounded. Police suspect the attack was motivated by personal grudge.