Two explosions occurred in Jolo, Sulu on Monday afternoon according Western Mindanao Command chief, killing at least 14 people including seven soldiers and a suicide bomber, and injuring 75 others.
The first explosion happened at 11:54 a.m. inside Paradise Food Shop beside the Syntax computer shop located in Serrantes St., Barangay Walled City where a military truck was parked nearby according to Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command. The explosion killed six soldiers and left 16 others wounded.
“Mayroong dalawang magkasunod na pagsabog dito kanina. ‘Yung una is 11:55 a.m. and then ‘yung pangalawa ay 1 p.m. As of now, anim na killed in action na sundalo at 18 na wounded in action na sundalo (There were two explosions that transpired here earlier. The first one happened at 11:55 am and the second was at 1 pm. As of now, six soldiers were killed in action while 18 are wounded),” Lt. Col. Ronald Mateo, Civil Military Relations Officer of the 11th infantry division said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV.
He later clarified that there were seven soldiers that were killed by the blast. He added that there were also six police officers and nine civilians that were injured.
Mateo said that the first bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked nearby the location. The motorcycle driver that fled the scene was yet to be identified by authorities.
An hour later, the second bomb exploded in the same street, 100 meters from the first blast. According to Vinluan, the second bomb was detonated by a female suicide bomber who was killed by the bomb along with a soldier and leaving two soldiers and six policemen wounded.
Vinluan also said that they are still identifying the nationality of the female suicide bomber.
“Hindi pa alam kung Indonesian ‘yun, basta female, (We still don’t know if the suicide bomber is Indonesian. All we know is she is a female),” he said.
Vinluan believes Mundi Sawadjaan, who is connected to the Abu Sayaf Group, was behind the explosion. Vinluan also suspects that Sawadjaan was also behind the bombing in the Cathedral in Jolo in 2019.
“Only one can make this kind of attack, Mundi Sawadjaan, the bomber of the Abu Sayyaf,” says Vinluan.
“Actually, ‘yun ‘yung sinusundan namin noong… kaya nga may namatay na apat na sundalo noon ‘di ba? Ang target nila ‘yung suicide bombers plus si Mundi Sawadjaan (Actually, we’ve been following him ever since. Which is why there were four soldiers that were killed back then. Their target are the suicide bombers and Mundi Sawadjaan),” the military official added.
Vinluan says that at least 75 people were wounded which includes 48 civilians, 21 soldiers, 3 local police, and 3 police Special Action Force personnel.
Investigators are now tracking the instigators of the explosion while teams have also been deployed to inspect the area for more possible explosive devices in the area. They are also determining what kind of bomb was used in the incident.
According to Joint Task Force Sulu spokesman Captain Rex Payot, the military forces were assisting local government officials in their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-10) response efforts when the explosions occurred.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued a statement condemning the bombing in Jolo, Sulu and appealed for public vigilance.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the explosion incidents in Jolo, Sulu today, which left scores dead and wounded, including soldiers. We likewise condole with the families and loved ones of those who died in these tragic incidents,” Roque said.