2 soldiers, 4 women hurt in Sulu videoke bar blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A homemade bomb ripped through a videoke bar near an Army base in Barangay Bus-bus in Jolo, Sulu last Saturday night, wounding six people, including two soldiers, officials said.

Anti-terrorism Task Force Comet spokesman Maj. Roel Ebreo said bomb experts were sifting through the damage for clues in the attack.

“Six people are wounded in the blast, four women and two soldiers, and we are still investigating the explosion,” Ebreo said.

Ebreo identified the wounded soldiers as Army Pfcs. Mark Anthony Taborno and Jun Cani, and the civilians as Jermalyn Flores, Taya Adjail, Laila Rojas, and Haidi Flores.

Ebreo said the explosion occurred at the Videoke House in Sitio Tabak, Barangay Bus-bus, a few meters away from Camp Bautista where the 3rd Marine Brigade and the forward base of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) are based.

The Americans were restricted to the camp at night for their security, Ebreo said.

Several dozen US troops have been training their Filipino counterparts in counter-terrorism operations in Sulu for two years, battling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah extremists.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but authorities are eyeing the Abu Sayyaf and the JI behind the attack.

“We are determining what type of explosive was used and who is behind this blast,” provincial police chief Julasiri Kasim said.

Presidential Assistant for Sulu Amilbahar Amilasan said authorities were investigating the motive behind the attack. – With James Mananghaya, AP