Red Cross volunteer hurt in Basilan blast

MANILA, Philippines – A Red Cross volunteer was injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Sunrise Village, Isabela City in Basilan, around noon Thursday, an Army spokesman said.

In a text message, Captain Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1^st Infantry Division, said the IED was rigged to a black motorcycle and was detonated at 12:25 noon while Isabela City Vice Mayos Abdulbaki Ajibun and Red Cross vehicles were passing by.

The explosion, Caber said, happened outside the house of Isabela City mayor, Cherrylyn Akbar.

The explosion damaged the vehicles and resulted to the wounding of Jonathan Cabuyao.

Ajibun, Caber said, believed he was the target of the explosion.

Meanwhile, the 104^th Infantry brigade is helping the Philippine National Police of Isabela in conducting an investigation on the incident, Caber said.