6 killed, 6 wounded in New Year's explosion in South Philippines

Six people were killed while six others were wounded when an improvised bomb exploded in a New Year attack on Tuesday night in a remote village of Basilan province, local security official said Wednesday. The improvised explosive device exploded at 9 p.m. near a parish church at Tumahubong village in Sumisip town of the southern province, said Jefferson Somera, public information officer of the 1st Army Division. The identities of five of the civilian fatalities have been confirmed while another minor remained unidentified. The wounded were immediately brought to the 64th Infantry Battalion headquarters for first aide treatment before they were airlifted to the military hospital in Zamboanga. They have also been identified by their relatives, Somera said. At the time of the explosion, the victims were having their New Year's party outside the residence of government militia volunteer Manuel Cisneros, he added. The military command in Basilan immediately alerted to thwart possible secondary attack by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants that have been blamed for the spate of the bombing and ambush on the village.