Four persons were killed while several others were injured in an explosion in Isabela City, Basilan Thursday afternoon (October 1).
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Albert Larubis, Isabela city police chief, said the improvised explosive device exploded in front the house of Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbare.
It was not clear if Akbar was in the house at the time of the explosion.
Captain Roy Trinidad, a military spokesman, said the fatalities were all security escorts of Ajibon.
The blast destroyed the Ajibon convoy’s backup pickup truck, Larubis added.
The police said among those killed were two escorts of Ajibon and the other was a bystander.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast, but Trinidad said authorities were investigating the bombing to determine the motive of the attack.
Ajibon was not hurt but his driver and body guard, who were on board another vehicle, were immediately killed.
On May 31, 2012, a similar explosion also occurred outside Akbar’s residence.
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Extortionists are suspected of being behind the attack that left 12 people wounded including a seven-year-old girl, said Senior Superintendent Jose Briones, the provincial police director. The victims were brought to nearby hospitals for treatment.
