COTABATO CITY, Philippines – At least two people were hurt in a bomb explosion inside a public market in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province on Tuesday morning.
Diosdado Pallasigue, Isulan town mayor, said two civilians were hurt in the 11:20 a.m. blast inside the town’s public market.
“We are investigating the attack. Our bomb experts are trying to determine what was used in the explosion,” he said.
No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion. Earlier, the town was placed on high alert for possible retaliatory attacks by rebels.
The bombing occurred a day after the circulation of text messages about possible bomb attacks in the region following the reported death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, in a police operation in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.
A total of 44 police commandos were killed in clashes with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano.