Sayyaf tagged in Jolo blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Security officials tagged the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in the fresh bombing attack in downtown Jolo in Sulu last Thursday.

This, as police and Marines imposed a high alert following intelligence reports of another bomb brought by the Abu Sayyaf to Jolo.

Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation for Western Mindanao, said the explosion left four dead and 10 others wounded.

Khu identified three of the fatalities as Habier Sabri, Abdul Majid Ibrahim, Alizon Maing. The fourth one was killed on the spot and his body was immediately retrieved and brought home by his relatives.

Those wounded were identified as Sabri Annung, Mariano Nadela, Jhon Dae, Abdula Bairalla, Madassal Sebudden, Nurvin Ahmad, Sukarno Jilah, Jernalyn Haiver, Julpin Muhammad, and Salma Gaspar.

He said the bomb was planted near the fence of the Salih Ututalum Elementary School in Barangay Lower San Raymondo.

“It’s so hard to immediately pinpoint the Abu Sayyaf, but with the previous intelligence information we intercepted the Abu Sayyaf was planning to slip two bombs in Jolo, prompting our police and Marines to intensify security,” Khu said.

Maj. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, said the bomb used in Thursday’s attack – made of ammonium nitrate with a cell phone as triggering device – was similar to the one that ripped through a chapel in Jolo last December.

Meanwhile, government troops have halted their pursuit for Abu Sayyaf commander Khair Mundos, his deputy Puruji Indama and about 15 fighters after they fled toward local communities on Sacol Island off Zamboanga City, Cabangbang said.

“We just withdrew to avoid civilians being caught in the middle,” he said. “We will get them next time.”   – With Jaime Laude, AP