Bomb explodes in Basilan province; no one killed or injured

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20): Bomb explodes in Basilan province; no one killed or injured

Police and military forces have placed their forces on alert to avert possible bomb attacks and atrocities by lawless elements in the province of Basilan.

This came after an improvised bomb explosion toppled an electric post and plunged Lamitan City, Basilan late Friday into total darkness.

However, no one was either killed or injured in the blast.

Lamitan City police chief Senior Inspector Gean Gallardo said the incident took place around 9:25 p.m. Friday in Sitio Lagasan, Barangay Kulay Bato, Lamitan City.

Gallardo said the improvised bomb was placed beneath an electric post and an acacia tree near the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM).

He said explosive ordnance personnel sifted the blast site and found that the main charged of the explosive is an 81-mm mortar shell.

Lamitan Vice-Mayor Roderick Furigay suspects that the Abu Sayyaf brigands were behind the incident. He did not elaborate.

Troops were deployed to secure public places and vital installations to ensure safety of the public.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=686476