Isabela City vice mayor, Red Cross exec hurt in blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – The vice mayor of Isabela City, capital of Basilan, and the local Red Cross head suffered injuries when an improvised bomb rigged in a parked motorcycle went off as they were passing by the area past noon yesterday, authorities said.

Police said Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibun and Red Cross head Jonathan Cabuyao sustained slight injuries from the blast.

Senior Superintendent Alex Linesis, Basilan police director, said the motorcycle containing the bomb was parked near the house of Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar at Sunrise Village. 

“The mayor was inside her house at the time of the explosion,” Linesis told newsmen.

Col. Arthur Ang, newly installed commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, said security was tightened in downtown Isabela City and military and police intelligence units were working closely to track down the bomber.

Police said Ajibun and Cabuyao were cruising opposite lanes of the road near the mayor’s house onboard their respective service vehicles when the bomb exploded at around 12:15 p.m. yesterday.

Ajibun believes he was the target of the bombing. He was on his way home after attending the regular session of the city council.