Two explosions rocked the capital of Basilan on Monday, wounding two people in what authorities believe to be the handiwork of the local terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
The Philippine National Police (PNP), through its public information office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Balba, assured policemen in field are thoroughly investigating the twin blasts.
The PNP said the first explosion occurred at around 5:45 p.m. at the parking area of Jollibee food store located at Barangay Isabela in Isabela City, Basilan, which damaged the property.
Reports quoting the military said the blast was caused by a faulty electrical wiring at the establishment although Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. said that the police is continuing to investigate the incident.
He said military explosive and ordnance experts initially reported that the explosion was caused by faulty electrical wiring.
The PNP, however, said on Tuesday that a CCTV footage showed a man wearing a yellow shirt with a cap appeared in the food store’s parking area “to place a small container inside a cellophane that later exploded.”
Few minutes after the blast or at around 6:15 p.m., another explosion was reported at the garage of D’Biel Transportation Co. located at Barangay La Piedad also in Isabela City.
“A duty guard was interviewed by our personnel and he narrated that he noticed a box of an alcoholic beverage in the area. Suddenly, it exploded. Apparently, the box was left by a passenger who boarded one of the bus units,” PNP Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said.
The explosion severely damaged an Isuzu Canter and three Isuzu bus units.
Two individuals, Evangeline Francisco, 28, and Christopher Pasaul, 47, a security guard, were also injured and were brought to the hospital.
“The post blast investigation will now determine the composition of explosives used. Our investigators are doubling time to identify the culprit of these two incidents and to establish the possible connection of both,” Danao said.
Military officials, including Rosario believed the second explosion could have been the handiwork of the ASG, which is already on the decline in Basilan.