Police suspect Abu Sayyaf behind Zamboanga City bar blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Police are conducting a terror investigation of Thursday’s explosion at an entertainment center here, saying the blast was possibly the work of the terror group Abu Sayyaf, which has links to the international terror network al-Qaida.

At least one person was killed and 10 others were wounded in the blast at a karaoke bar and massage parlor here.

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, the city police director, said police had received intelligence information about a directive given by the Abu Sayyaf to members and recruits to “hit the R and R (rest and recreation) points of government forces in Zamboanga City.”

He said the targets include karaoke bars and massage parlors where soldiers or policemen are known to hang out after work.

READ: Bomb kills 1, wounds 8 others in Zamboanga

The target of Thursday’s bombing was the Manly Massage and KTV Bar on San Jose Road near the Zamboanga Central School.

Around 10 p.m. on Thursday, a remotely detonated improvised explosive device  went off in Manly, killing bar worker Geraldine Miguel.

Wounded were Nilo Gonzales, of Pagadian City; Marina Anamog, 36; Elizabeth Alarcon, 38; Alfredo Erojo, 55; Stephanie Marpel, 32, of Pagadian City; Cheska Mendoza, 24; Teresita de los Santos, 53; Karen Alvarez, 29; Nestor Alaban, 36; and Nora Amancion, 36.

Manly became the fourth bar and massage parlor bombed here since November last year and the second this year after the Jan. 23 explosion outside Fantacy Bar on Ma. Clara Lobregat Highway that killed two persons and wounded 54 others.

Casimiro said the previous attacks had put police on a high alert status.

“That’s among the reasons we kept the alert status up,” he said. It remains unclear, however, how the terrorists were able to slip past supposedly tightened security in the city.

READ: Explosion hits Zamboanga City bar; 1 dead, 31 injured

The military has launched an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf which is known to maintain camps in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

Arrests have been made of suspected leaders of the terror group, including that of a certain Basit Balahim, who had been tagged in the 2001 hostage taking and beheading case in Lantawan, Basilan.

Casimiro said Balahim, alias “Ballan,” was arrested at an operation in Barangay Talabaan here.

He said Balahim is wanted for kidnappings and beheading.

According to Casimiro, Balahim faces a string of criminal cases that had been filed at the regional trial court of Isabela City in Basilan.

Balahim would be turned over to the custody of the Isabela City court after interrogation by police.