Basilan bombing aims for mass casualties

ISABELA CITY, Philippines - Police authorities said the improvised bomb that exploded here Thursday was similar to the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by the Abu Sayyaf group aimed for mass casualties. 

Investigators are looking at politics or business extortion as possible angle of the deadly bombing.  

Police Superintendent Albert Larubis, city police chief, said that more than one IED exploded simultaneously based on the bomb components recovered from the blast site in Barangay Sunrise.  

“Based on the blast, it was intended to hit mass casualties.” Larubis said. 

Larubis said they have no sufficient evidence yet to identify the group behind the bombing attack.

Personnel from the explosive ordnance and disposal (EOD) unit however said the type of bomb used was similar to the steel pipe bombs recovered from the Abu Sayyaf group in May.

The improvised bomb was concealed in a rice sack filled with coconut husks and placed in a tricycle cab parked in front the newly-constructed apartment owned by an engineer.

At least four villagers were killed while 13 others were injured when the improvised bomb exploded.

The explosion also damaged the house of now outgoing mayor, Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar, widow of the late former Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, who is now in her third and last term as local chief executive.

The bombing is the second attempt on Ajibon’s life. He survived an earlier attack also in the same barangay in May 2012.

“But the vice mayor could not pinpoint any possible suspect. He said he has no enemy except in politics,” Larubis said.