7 hurt in Basilan, Maguindanao blasts

Seven persons were injured in three separate explosions that occurred in the provinces of Basilan and Maguindanao in the past two days.

Four of the victims were injured in twin blasts that hit the municipality of Datu Sinsuat in Maguindanao yesterday morning.

The victims were responding to an explosion in Barangay Semba when another blast rang out five meters away from the site.

Injured were barangay chairman Pendatun Sinsuat, councilman Sinaribo Lalaog, Army Sgt. Eddie Cane and Police Officer 2 Bobby Guialani Pendililang.

The blasts occurred within a 20-minute interval, according to Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID).

No one was injured in the first explosion that occurred at around 7:30 a.m.

Two improvised explosive devices were planted along a road leading to a training school of the Army’s 6th ID.

Pendililang suffered shrapnel injuries and was taken to an Army hospital at Camp Siongco in Barangay Awang.

The three others suffered minor injuries and were discharged after treatment.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, in Basilan, a businessman and two minors were injured in another explosion that occurred on the island-municipality of Hadji Mutammad on Tuesday.

Murabbi Appotoh Jalali, 35, and the minors were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Police said Jalali was making dynamite in his store in Barangay Tausan while the minors were playing outside when the blast occurred at around 6 p.m.