Six out of the 7 slain soldiers in the Jolo, Sulu twin blasts on Monday, August 24, were killed while they were out procuring groceries in the city center, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday, August 25.

In a phone interview with Rappler, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Colonel Rafael Abundabar said that 6 of the slain soldiers were either aboard or near their parked military vehicle in Jolo when the bomb-embedded motorcycle exploded near them.

“Siguro nakita nung mga nagpapasabog kung saan nakapark ang military vehicle (Perhaps those behind the explosion saw where the military vehicle was parked),” said Abundabar.

This explained why they make up majority of the 14 fatalities, Abundabar said. They were assigned to the 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, which is based in Kuta Heneral Teofilo Bautista in Barangay Busbus in Jolo. (READ: Jolo suicide bomber subject of 4 slain soldiers’ intel mission – sources)

The soldiers, Abundabar explained, were following the regular schedule in buying groceries, so it was possible that the culprits studied their routines before mounting the attack.

The seventh soldier as well as the Special Action Force cop were killed by the second blast as they cordoned off the first blast site. The soldier even tried to stop the female suicide bomber before she detonated, Abundabar said.

“It is saddening that our soldiers are just there to help with keeping order and yet this is what they do. We condemn this attack,” Abundabar said. – Rappler.com