TEN people were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Sulu province, a top military official said Saturday, May 12.

Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the explosion happened at 7:10 p.m. Friday at the JNB Sari-Sari store and videoke bar at Sitio Martirez in San Raymundo village, Jolo.

Sobejana said the victims were also customers of the videoke bar who were having a drinking spree at the time of explosion.

The victims, who were slightly injured, were rushed to the hospital of the Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office.

The military official said investigation showed the IED was detonated by a cellular phone.

He said the police are conducting thorough probe over the incident in a bid to identify the suspects.

“We are looking at the signature of the IED to identify the culprits,” Sobejana added.

He said they are reassessing the security measures in downtown Jolo and other parts of the province. (SunStar Philippines)