By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent .
STILL unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a mosque in Zamboanga City killing two people and hurting four others at dawn yesterday.
The grenade attack came just three days after bombs were exploded inside and outside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo , Sulu that raised fears these violent acts dampen optimism of the autonomy vote in Muslim Mindanao.
Armed Forces-Western Mindanao spokesperson Lt. Col. Gerry Besama said still unidentified men threw a grenade inside Kamahaldikaan mosque in Sitio Logoy Diotay, Barangay Talon-Talon. The explosion killed Haj Sattal Bato and Rex Habil, both 46 — they were declared dead on arrival at the Zamboanga City Medical Center.
He said Bato and Habil were visiting tabligh or preachers from Basilan who have been in the mosque since Monday.
Besama identified those who were wounded as Palson Asgali, 46, Alnizcar Sabbaha, 41, Jikilani Alabani, 67, and Amidz Kassara, 30.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong said it was obvious to him that the perpetrators were seeding sectarian violence with the aim of creating division between Christians and Muslims.
“Let us not fall into their trap and give them the satisfaction of turning ourselves into enemies and later on becoming victims of this vicious cycle of violence they are now attempting to create,” Adiong said.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo deplored the recent violent incident in the wake of Sunday’s twin bombings on Mt. Carmel cathedral in Jolo that left at least 20 dead and over 100 injured.
“The Mindanao citizenry will not be cowed or intimidated even as they go about their daily activities,” Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo assured Mindanao residents that the government would secure their safety amid the threats of terrorism.
Senior Supt. Thomas Joseph Martir, Zamboanga police director, said the investigation continues in an effort to unmask the people behind the grenade attack. (with a report from PNA)
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