4 hurt in bomb blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Four election coordinators were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) believed hurled by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants outside the house of the mayor of Lamitan City exploded Sunday night in Basilan.

Police said the explosion occurred at 10 p.m. while Mayor Roderick Furigay was having a meeting with 200 election coordinators and supporters at his house on Flores street in Barangay Maganda.

Chief Inspector Almer Ismael, city police chief, said the four victims were brought to the Lamitan hospital for treatment.

Furigay said the IED, described to be molotov-type, hit the electric wires and tarpaulins before it landed outside the house.

“It would have been a disaster if the bomb did not hit the wires and tarpaulins,” Furigay said.

The mayor believes extortion was the motive for the attack. 

“Just like what happened to the other political camp, the motive for the attack was clearly extortion. There are groups preying on various candidates and local parties,” he added.