SECURITY measures have been tightened in Isabela City, located in Basilan in southern Philippines, after two consecutive blasts on Monday early evening in commercial properties that left two civilians hurt, the police said.
The first explosion took place at around 5:45 p.m. at the parking area of a Jollibee fastfood branch in the city proper.
While authorities were conducting post-blast operations, another explosion was reported at the bus depot of D’ Biel Transportation Co. in another part of the city. Four of the company’s buses were damaged, according to the police.
Police Regional Director Franco P. Simborio of Zamboanga Peninsula, which has jurisdiction over the city, said an investigation and manhunt is on for the perpetrators, with at least one suspect caught on CCTV footage in the first blast.
“We are on top of the situation and we need the cooperation of the public avoid occurrence of similar incidents,” Mr. Simborio said as he appealed for calm and vigilance.
He said they are closely coordinating with the city government and other law enforcement agencies to immediately resolve the crime and avoid a repeat of the incidents.
Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman, in a statement posted on her Facebook page late Monday, also called for calm and appealed to the public to avoid speculations and spreading fear.
“For a long while now, we have had peace in the city and the entire province of Basilan,” she said in Filipino. “Our economy is accelerating and life has been improving. Let us keep this up and let everyone know that no intimidation will stop our development.”
Isabela City is administratively under the Zamboanga Peninsula Region although it is located within Basilan, which is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. — MSJ
