2 hurt in grenade explosion in Jolo church

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A grenade explosion hit the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, capital town of Sulu Wednesday night, wounding two bystanders, according to police and military officials.

The injured victims were identified as Shaima Pakanna, 19, single and a resident of Barangay Kajatian, Indanan; and Romano Saijuan, 25, a resident of Zone 3, Barangay Tulay, Jolo.

Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita, Sulu provincial police commander, said an unidentified suspect lobbed and exploded a fragmentation grenade in front of the cathedral along Gen. Arola Street, Barangay Walled City about 7 p.m.

The grenade, hurled from a distance by one of two men riding a motorcycle together, landed and went off near the tomb of slain Jolo Bishop Benjamin De Jesus at one side of the worship site.

Orbita said Pakanna and Saijuan were hit by shrapnels and sustained slight injuries.

“They were rushed to the provincial hospital for medication. They were slightly wounded in the explosion,” Fr. Charlie Inzon, president of the Notre Dame Jolo College, told Catholic station dxMS in Cotabato City.

Responding police forces recovered a safety lever of a grenade at the explosion site.

Police and the military could not immediately determine who was behind the grenade attack.

The grenade attack was the second at the Jolo church  in two-years' time.

Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin called on the residents to stay vigilant and report to authorities any suspicious persons in their community.

Amin, however,  believes the attack could be isolated,  citing Jolo has been peaceful for the past months.