6 killed, 40 wounded in Sulu blast, security officials say

(Updated 11 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Six civilians were killed while around 40 others were wounded in yet another explosion in southern Philippines, this time in Jolo town in Sulu province, security officials said Tuesday. Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, public information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao, said the improvised explosive device was placed "inside" a motorcycle parked more or less 100 meters away from a Catholic church where a Mass was just held. Gucela said Scene of the Crime Operatives likewise recovered two unexploded IEDs, each placed in a cardboard box, situated also around 100 meters away from the church. An earlier report received by Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said the explosion, which he said occurred 7:55 a.m. Tuesday in Poblacion village in front of the Gotoling Hardware along Sanchez Street, killed at least two people and wounded 24 others. Dolorfino said the motorcycle where the IED was placed was parked in front of a Caltex gasoline station in the area. A sketchy report from Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) operations chief Superintendent Danilo Bacas said a policeman was among those hurt in the explosion, which came two days after an IED exploded near a cathedral in Cotabato City on Sunday. The Cotabato City blast killed five people and wounded dozens of others. Bacas said the Sulu cathedral is located across the street where the explosion occurred. "Nasa kabilang kalye po ang simbahan [pero] medyo malayo [The cathedral is located across the street but it is somewhat far (from the blast site)]." Philippine Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said most of the wounded victims in the Jolo blast were in critical condition. "Our initial report showed that a motorcycle parked near the store allegedly with wire connected on it was noticed, prompting concerned citizens to report the sightings to the police. An explosion followed just as policemen were responding to the information," Arevalo said in a text message sent to reporters. As of posting time, authorities have yet to determine those behind the explosion, although Sulu is a known lair of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf which is still holding captive Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni in the province. Cotabato City blast Only last Sunday, a loud explosion rocked Cotabao City when an IED went off at a lechon (roasted pig) house in front of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral along Quezon Avenue about 8:50 a.m., police said. The blast took place just as people were leaving the church after the second Mass, which ended at 8:45 a.m. Five people were killed in the incident, which the military blamed on the Special Operations Group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The MILF has denied the accusation. Suspecting that the MILF rebels were behind the Cotabato blast, Col. Jonathan Ponce, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman, told GMANews.TV that "they (MILF) are trying to divert attention. They do this because they need to create a scenario. They are losing and they are running out of ammunition." Late Monday afternoon, a report by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said a suspect taken in for questioning in connection with the Cotabato City blast was released for lack of evidence. - GMANews.TV