Isulan police find IED near body of man shot by unknown gunmen

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines — Authorities are investigating why a man who was shot dead in Isulan town may have been transporting an improvised bomb.

The shooting happened two days after an explosion in the Isulan market hurt eight people.

Police Lt. Col. Modesto Carrera, chief of the Isulan municipal police, said Wednesday the slain man was attacked Tuesday by two pistol-wielding gunmen in Barangay Kenram while seated on a motorcycle.

The gunmen hurriedly escaped, leaving the victim sprawled on the ground.

Responding investigators found an improvised explosive device close to the unidentified man's body. He had died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

The incident was preceded by Saturday’s bomb explosion at the Isulan public market.

Police and military intelligence officials said Monday there were indications that the bombing last Saturday was pulled off by members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The group, operating in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, was also tagged as responsible for three recent bombings in Isulan that killed five people and hurt more than 60 others.