3 Marines wounded in Jolo explosion – report

MANILA, Philippines - Three Marines were wounded in an explosion on Jolo Island in Sulu province shortly before noon Friday, a radio report said. Radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag said two injured Marines were brought in stretchers to the trauma center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) medical center in Jolo, while another soldier limped his way to the center. The explosion occurred at around 11:50 a.m., and was heard by reporters and soldiers at the 3rd Marine Brigade headquarters in Camp Teodulo Bautista in Patikul town, which is not far from the Jolo airport. The report said the military traced the explosion to somewhere in Latih village in Patikul, but troops were still investigating the cause of the explosion. Sulu is currently under a state of emergency due to the crisis caused by the Jan. 15 kidnapping of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). One of the workers, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, was released by the bandits on Thursday night, but two of the volunteers — Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni — are still being held hostage. Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV