9 hurt in Zamboanga City blasts — officials

Nine people were hurt after two explosions rocked Zamboanga City on Sunday afternoon, officials said. Zamboanga City Rep. Erico Fabian said a bomb exploded at the Red Palm Pension House in Barangay Guiwan about three kilometers from the city at the height of the preparations for a local festival. Four boxers scheduled to fight during the festival—identified by Fabian as Romy Monding, Jerome Taylor, Jeffrey Jimenez and a certain “Jimboy"—were hurt during the blast. “It is quite unfortunate because we are celebrating the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival… We have several activities scheduled, and one of the highlights is the boxing competition... Some of the boxers were billeted there," he said in a phone interview aired over GMA News TV Live.

Fabian added that another explosion, this time caused by a grenade, occurred at a cockpit in Barangay San Roque just a few minutes after the explosion at the pension house. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Task Force Zamboanga commander, said five persons were hurt in the second blast. Pascual said authorities have already cleared the blast sites and are currently conducting investigation on the explosions. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News