Bomb blast hits Sulu karaoke bar

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A bomb explosion hit a karaoke bar in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday night.

No one was reported wounded in the blast that damaged the bar owned by Talipao Vice Mayor Mijan Hashim in Barangay Bus-bus.

Abu Sayyaf bandits are believed to be behind the attack. 

Witnesses said two men fled the scene on a motorcycle prior to the explosion.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the bar staff failed to identify the man who left a bag that contained the bomb.  

Police and military personnel are on heightened alert in Jolo after a bombing attempt on a police patrol car on Wednesday. 

Soldiers also foiled a bombing attempt in Isabela, Basilan on Wednesday with the discovery of a bomb placed in a cooking pot near a bazaar.

In Maguindanao, bomb experts deactivated an improvised explosive device discovered by a resident in an abandoned bag at the terminal.

Witnesses said a man left the bag in a Husky bus bound for Cotabato City.