7 Marines hurt in Sulu roadside bombing

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least seven Marine troopers were injured Thursday morning in an explosion in Talipao town, Sulu, according to officials.

Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the troopers under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 (MBLT) were riding a convoy of vehicles when it hit an improvised explosive device (IED) that rigged along the roadside of Barangay Lagtoh.

Tan said at least seven Marines were hurt from the blast. They were immediately brought to the trauma hospital in Jolo, Sulu.

He said injured soldiers were subsequently flown to Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) in Zamboanga City two hours later for further treatment.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the victims and their team under the 30th Marine Company came from Barangay Katian, Indanan town enroute to Barangay Kuhaw in Talipao to act as advance forces on a mission.

Arrojado believed the Abu Sayyaf group was behind the roadside bombing to delay the government troops in its offensive operations against the militants in the province.

He directed the troops on the ground to strictly impose operational and communication security during troops' movement to prevent similar incident.