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ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/31 May) – Two people, including a vice mayor, were wounded in a bomb explosion Thursday in Isabela City in Basilan, police and military officials said.
Senior Supt. Alexander Linesis, Basilan police director, identified the victims as Isabela Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibun and Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Basilan head Jonathan Cabuyao, both of whom suffered slight injuries.
Linesis said the two were aboard their respective vehicles traveling on opposite directions when a bomb, placed on a parked motorcycle, exploded at 12:20 p.m. along the highway in Barangay Sunrise.
Ajibun, who had just presided the regular session of the city council, believed he was the target of the bombing.
Cabuyao was on his way home.
Supt. Allan Nazarro, Isabela police chief, has ordered the conduct of thorough investigation of the incident and find out the real motive of the bombing.
The police chief noted that the blast site is just few meters away from the city hall of Isabela and the residence of Isabela Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar.
Col. Arthur Ang, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, said he deployed personnel to provide security support to the police forces of Isabela as security has been tightened in the province’ capital. (MindaNews)