11 die in Basilan bomb explosion

July 31, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Eleven people were killed while five others wounded in a car bomb explosion early Tuesday in Lamitan City, Basilan province, officials disclosed.

Lt. Col. Montano Alodovar, Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion commander, said over RMN-Zamboanga the explosion happened around 5:50 a.m. at the Magkawit detachment located at the tri-boundary of Bulanting, Colonia, and Maganda villages in Lamitan City.

Almodovar said prior the to incident, the troops flagged down a white van that was traveling towards Lamitan City proper for inspection.

However, he said the van suddenly exploded while the troops requested its driver to disembark.

The fatalities included the van driver, a soldier, five militiamen and four civilians--three women and a child--who were militia dependents.

The five wounded included an Army Scout Ranger junior officer, an enlisted man and three militiamen.

Military and police authorities in Basilan province eyed the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as the ones behind the incident.

On Monday, the military received an information that eight ASG members led by Mike Usman Lijal were sighted in Barangay Languyan, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.

11 Sulu-based ASG gunmen were also sighted on the same day in Barangay Basakan, also in Mohammad Ajul.  DMS