ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climac-Salazar said on Saturday that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was behind the bomb explosion that killed two people and injured 52 others in an east coast village of this city.
The bomb exploded around 3:15 p.m. Friday in front of a pub house located across the bus terminal in the village of Guiwan, east of Zamboanga City.
Salazar said the bombing was related with last Monday’s botched plan of the ASG members to bolt out from the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC).
Salazar said investigation showed the ASG had planned to set off the bomb at night fall last Monday to divert the attention of the security forces that would give opportunity the ASG detainees to stage a jail break.
While staging a jail break, investigation showed that another group of Abu Sayyaf bandits will attack the ZCRC to rescue their imprisoned comrades.
Salazar said the main target of the ASG was to rescue from the ZCRC Benzar and Musang, brothers of Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama.
The two Indama brothers were among the 56 ASG inmates detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-administered ZCRC located along Varela Street in the village of Zone I.
The rescue plan was foiled when the Bureau of Jail Manage and Penology (BJMP) personnel detailed at the ZCRC manage to confiscate Monday three caliber .45 pistols and 140 rounds of ammunition delivered to an ASG detainee.
Salazar said the ASG pushed through with their intention to exploded bomb to scare the public and to demonstrate they are capable to carry out their bad intention although the rescue plan was foiled.
The number fatalities have climbed to two while the wounded total to 52 based on the latest records of the City Health Office.
City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said another victim expires Friday night while under medical treatment.
Agbulos identified the second fatality as Dennis Valente, who was earlier list to be in critical condition.
The first fatality was Reynaldo Tan, 38, who expired at the hospital several minutes after the bomb explosion.
Of the 52 wounded, 10 are admitted at the hospitals and are provided medical assistance by the local government.
Salazar said that financial assistance will be also extended to the families of the Tan and Valiente and “express our condolences” to their families.
She said that most of the 52 wounded victims were onlookers, as the car was engulfed with flame before the powerful blast.