ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 17 policemen and civilians were wounded when two explosions took place inside the Sulu provincial police compound in Jolo town, officials said Saturday.
Col. Allan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said the first blast – injuring several civilians – took place around 7:30 p.m. Thursday just outside a mosque inside Camp Kasim in Barangay Asturias and was caused by a grenade lobbed by a still unidentified perpetrator.
Arrojado said a few minutes later, another explosion occurred near the site of the first blast and injured several policemen, including an officer.
Supt. Abraham Orbita, the Sulu police director, said they were investigating the motive and the identities of the perpetrators.
He said all the victims sustained shrapnel injuries.
“The injured were all brought to Integrated Provincial Hospital and to the Trauma Hospital in Camp Bautista. The blast victims suffered shrapnel wounds,” Orbita said.
Five of the injured civilians were identified as Sildaya Imbay, 38; Yvone Aya-Ay, 22; siblings Alrasheed, 11 and Arsheeda Imbay, 7; and Faujiya Mudah, 12.
The injured policemen included Senior Insp Jeremy Dogao, SPO1 Johny Wahi, SPO1 Benhar Ladjamalik, PO1 Arkis Duran, PO1 Tantung Muksan, P02 Emmanuel Abin, PO1 Hinaro Accad, PO1 Elorde Alem, PO1 Al-Aziz Sakilan and PO1 Mark Tulavan. CB