At least 15 hurt in twin Jolo explosions

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Twin explosions rocked Jolo, Sulu, on Friday night, May 29, injuring at least 15 people.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said in a statement late Friday that two successive explosions took place in front of a mosque inside a Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp in Asturias, Sulu, at around 7:30 pm on Friday.

Those injured at Camp Kasim include at least 10 members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the Police Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC), and 5 civilians, including 3 minors.

The first explosion allegedly caused by a hand grenade injured the civilians, while the policemen, who arrived in response to the initial explosion, were hurt when another blast occured about 10 minutes later, reportedly caused by a secondary improvised explosive device (IED).

“It seems the (first) explosion was set up to draw responders as the target,” the provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Abraham Orbita told reporters.

The injured authorities and civilians were brought to the hospital for immediate treatment.

Roxas said he has ordered the PNP to conduct a comprehensive investigation and hold accountable those responsible for the twin blasts.

“The perpetrators will be persecuted to the fullest extent of law,” he said. –  with a report from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com