1 killed, 9 hurt in Zamboanga blast

In January, one person was killed while 48 others were injured after a parked auto exploded in the city’s commercial centre, an attack authorities blamed on the Abu Sayyaf group.

According to Zamboanga City Councilor Joel “Elong” Natividad, the explosion, believed to be caused by an improvised explosive device, occurred at the Manly Massage Parlor in front of the flower stalls on San Jose Road at around 9:50 p.m.

The police said the lone fatality was identified as Geraldine Miguel, 21, cashier of the bar while most of those injured were guest relation officers and 3 male clients of the bar that cater massage and video karaoke entertainment.

The wounded victims, mostly female attendants, were identified as Marina Anamog, Elizabeth Alarcon, Stephanie Marpel, Cheska Mendoza, Teresita delos Santos, Karen Alvarez, Nora Amancion, Nilo Gonzales, Alfredo Erojo and Nestor Alaban.

Casimiro suspected the bombing was the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf to divert attention and ease the pressure on the unabated campaign launched by government security forces against them on the neighbouring island province of Sulu. It was not immediately clear if extremist groups were behind the explosion.

Police say investigators are still trying to determine the identity of the attackers.