Abu Sayyaf tagged in Sulu videoke bar blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits slipped in an improvised bomb into a videoke bar which exploded Thursday night in a village in Jolo, Sulu, according to security official.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the blast only damaged the videoke bar which belonged to former Talipao town vice mayor Mijan Hashim in Barangay Bus-bus. No one was reported injured from the blast.

Police investigation disclosed that two unidentified men entered the establishment with a baggage but hurriedly left on board a motorcycle.

Arrojado said employees of the videoke bar could not identify the suspects who left the baggage inside which contained improvised explosive device (IED).

Authorities believed the IED was remotely detonated through a mobile phone.

Responding personnel of the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team recovered from the blast site debris of cellphone and electrical wire believed to be parts of the IED.

The explosion occurred despite heightened security following a bomb attempt on the patrol car of the 6th Maneuver Platoon of the police’s Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) Wednesday at Kasalamatan Street, Barangay San Raymundo.

Military also foiled another bomb plot in the downtown of Isabela City, Basilan Wednesday when intelligence units tracked suspected bombers trying to slip off IED near the cathedral.

The suspects on board a motorcycle were forced to abandon the IED near a bazaar and escaped.

Responding police and military EOD teams defused the bomb concealed in a cooking pot.