ISABELA CITY, Basilan , Philippines – Armed men in military uniforms detonated bombs yesterday then fired on fleeing civilians, leaving 15 dead, including five of the suspects, and 13 civilians wounded, according to police and military officers.
The first bomb went off at around 10:30 a.m. at the grandstand of a stadium in Barangay Sampurna outside the Department of Education building after Marines and the police gave chase to a van, which failed to stop at a checkpoint.
Three Marines and a policeman were killed in the ensuing gun battle but the bomb inside the van exploded, killing three of the suspects.
Two gunmen, who jumped out of the van before the explosion, exchanged fire with government troopers but were killed.
The second bomb, rigged to a motorcycle parked near the Sta. Isabel Cathedral, went off minutes later as government forces chased the suspects.
“It heavily damaged the church but no one was wounded in that blast. The men were shooting at civilians as they fled towards a forested area,” provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza said.
Another bomb was recovered in front of the house of Judge Leo Jay Principe in Sunrise Village near the city hall but was immediately detonated by the police Explosive Ordnance Disposal elements led by Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, regional police EOD commander.
A businesswoman, who asked not to be named, said they were already alerted and were closing shop during the first explosion when another blast occurred beside the church.
“It was so loud and afterwards thick smoke billowed and was followed by fire. We heard glass shards falling from several establishments near our business center,” the businesswoman said.
Abus behind the attack
Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar confirmed the number of casualties and told the media that two of the suspects were captured and taken into police custody.
“As of now we cannot make any statement because we don’t know who were responsible for this senseless attack. We will make sure that justice will be given to the victims,” Akbar said.
Earlier, police and military intelligence units in Basilan were convinced that the bombing could have been a test mission for new recruits of the special operations group (SOG) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
But Mendoza hinted that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) could be behind the attack following the identification of one of the slain attackers, Bensar Indama, the younger brother of ASG leader Puruji Indama.
Bensar, who died inside the van, was positively identified by a city councilor.
“We are pursuing eight other suspects and there are reports that they have taken two civilians as human shields but this can’t be confirmed yet,” Mendoza said.
Authorities also traced the van used by the attackers, but Mendoza declined to name the owner, saying only it was registered in Quezon City.
“We are investigating how the vehicle arrived here. We are also investigating right now if this recent attack is somehow election related,” the police official said.
A call for sobriety
Meanwhile, Basilan Archbishop Martin Jumoad appealed to the people to stay calm and keep their vigilance to help the authorities.
“I call on the men and women in uniform – we need their assistance to help neutralize the situation in the cathedral. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police should neutralize the rebel groups who have attacked the cathedral in Isabela City,” Jumoad said.
He also asked help from the Carmelite Monastery to pray for peace.
The cathedral was almost completely destroyed and the offices and quarters of the priests were ruined, including three of the priests’ vehicles.
Cotabato Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said the bombing only shows that the request of Bishop Jumoad should be considered and that the province of Basilan should be placed under martial law.
Last night Jumoad led residents in a candlelight vigil at the site of the explosions.
Police and military personnel manned checkpoints and patrolled the area on foot. –Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, John Unson, AP