Two killed, four wounded in grenade attack in karaoke bar in southern Philippines

Jolo: Two people were killed and four others were wounded in a grenade attack in a karaoke bar in Jolo, southern Philippines late Monday, police and military said in a belated report on Tuesday.

"We have reports saying that Urban Terror Group (UTG), another unit of the militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), was responsible for the attack," said Inspector Usman Pingay, police chief of Jolo. It was revealed for the first time that ASG has an urban terror group.

Meanwhile, renegade members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) abducted three persons and took 15 cows during a raid on Dado, a small village in North Cotabato on Monday, police said in another belated report.

The new hostages were identified as Rolijun Lindayao, Riyo Lindayao and Ritoy Elarkosa, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division.

"There is an ongoing operation to recover the hostages," said Ponce.

The raid occurred a day after a grenade attack killed a village official and wounded five others in nearby Pikit town.

The incidents occurred hours after the military reported that Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad, who is holding three Red Cross workers, was killed in a clash with troops in Jolo's forested jungle.