K-9 team member hurt in Zambo blasts

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A member of a police K-9 unit was injured in two separate bomb explosions that hit the downtown area here on Sunday, police officials reported yesterday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman for the local police, said Police Officer 2 Manuel Franklyn Ynid is in a stable condition after he was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Huesca said the first explosion occurred at around 7:30 p.m. at the Deluxe Massage and Videoke Bar, where no one was reported hurt.

The next bomb exploded 15 minutes later outside the same building along Tomas Claudio street, where Ynid was injured. His canine partner Diego, a Belgian Malinois, suffered minor bruises.

Responding to the first explosion, Ynid and Diego checked an abandoned cardboard box for an improvised explosive device. Witnesses said the dog was sitting  beside the box when the explosion occurred.

Police said the bomb contained ammonium nitrate. It left  no shrapnel and was detonated by a cell phone.

Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the incident was an isolated case.  She gave assurance of the safety and security of delegates of the Boy Scouts who are attending the centennial jamboree at the Zamboanga Economic and Free Port Zone Authority.

Police said the bombings could be a diversionary scheme amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan and Sulu. Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said they were looking into this angle.

Zamboanga City police chief Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said they are investigating reports that an extortion group terrorizing local businessmen could be behind the incidents.

– With Jaime Laude