ZAMBOANGA CITY, 28 March 2006 — At least 9 people were confirmed dead and 20 others wounded, many seriously, after a bomb explosion yesterday ripped through a convenience store in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, an aide to President Gloria Arroyo said.
Secretary Jesus Dureza, Arroyo’s peace adviser, said 9 people were killed, three of them still unidentified, when a homemade bomb exploded in downtown Jolo.
At least 20 others were injured and many of them are in critical condition at the Sulu Provincial Hospital.
“Based on the latest reports, at least 9 people were killed, three of them are still unidentified, and 20 people are also wounded, many of them seriously,” Dureza said.
Other reports put the casualty toll to more than 24 dead.
The blast coincided with an ongoing government operation against the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf militants.
Security officials said the blast tore the second floor of a convenience store in downtown Jolo around 1:15 p.m. and that most of the victims were Muslims.
Jolo military chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo earlier said the blast was the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the series of bombings and kidnappings in the south.
“We are still investigating who are behind the blast, but the attack had the trademark of the Abu Sayyaf,” Aleo said.
He said initial military reports suggested that the bomb was made from a deadly cocktail of chemicals, possibly ammonium nitrate and shrapnel.
“It was probably ammonium nitrate, but we are still investigating the blast,” he said.
Air Force Maj. Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman for the Southern Command, said troops were deployed in blast site and sealed the area as they searched for explosives, but so far found nothing. “The situation is under control and authorities have tightened security in Jolo,” Hayudini said.
It was not immediately known if the blast was connected to ongoing military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf group or not.
A small group of heavily armed US military advisers stationed in Jolo island were spotted helping Filipino soldiers investigate the bombings, but no officials would like to give a statement about the role the Americans were involved.
