One of the injured victims lying on the street after the explosion (Photo courtesy of: Eli Elthon)
(UPDATED, 3:09PM, 07 Sept. 2019) Isulan, Sultan, Kudarat – An explosion suspected to be from an improvised explosive device (IED) rocked this city early Saturday morning injuring seven civilians.
The victims were brought to the Nazarene Hospital and Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital
Authorities have released the names of the casualties:
- Jomar Catalan Aquino, 30, of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
- Jay Carnaso, 30, of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
- Gerald Cartagena, 28, Little Baguio, Surallah, South Cotabato
- Niño Minus Virgo, 28, of Brgy. Sampao, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
- Jarren Binaluon Amigo, 24, of Malingwon, Brgy Biwang Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat
- Gulano Nasim Salip, 24, of Kalawag 1, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
- Cagadas Terrencio Kalawag 2, Isulan, SK 35 yrs old, Traffic Enforcer
The explosion happened at around 7am at the town’s public market destroying parked motorcycles in the area. CCTV footage shows a rider parking his motorcycle in the area when the bomb suddenly exploded. Another rider sitting on his parked motorcycle a few feet away from the blast site was thrown off his vehicle.
Police are still investigating who is behind this attack.
Isulan has been rocked by various attacks in the past. In August 2018, during the town’s annual Hamungaya Festival, an IEC planted on a parked motorcycle exploded killing 3 and injuring 36. A few weeks after, twin explosions outside an Internet café, killing 2 and injuring 12.
Authorities tagged the terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as behind the bombing. (Rommel F. Lopez)