The country’s military officials said that the attack occurred despite extra tight security deployed, owing to threats of attacks by the Islamic State group-aligned militants.
Regional Military Commander Lt. Gen Corleto Vinluan said that five soldiers and four civilians were killed in the first attack when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded at noon. The blast took place near two parked army trucks in front of a grocery and a computer shop in Jolo town in Sulu province.
The second blast, apparently from a female suicide attacker, occurred nearby about an hour later and killed the bomber and a soldier. A third unexploded bomb was reportedly found in a public market. Jolo was immediately placed in a security lockdown by troops and police.
Military and police officials said that nearly 40 soldiers, police and civilians were wounded in the bomb attacks.