Bombs ripped through two department stores in Iligan City Thursday, killing two people and injuring 45 others, authorities said.

The fatalities were identified as Jonas Badelles, 22, and Erwin Suico, 20. Both worked as baggage boys for Iligan City’s Jerry’s Shoppers Plaza.

Of the 45 injured three are in critical condition and were taken to a tertiary hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.

First hit by bombing attack was the Uni-City Department Store. The explosion took place at the mall’s baggage counter at around 1:30 p.m.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed two men wearing tableeg (Arab gown) approaching the baggage area. The two left a package before leaving the counter around 1:24 p.m.

The blast took place seven minutes after they left the baggage area.

“We have identified two suspects wearing tableeg. We have pictures of them. Our intelligence personnel are trying to identify these persons,” said Col. Nicanor Dolojan, commander of Philippine Army’s 403rd Brigade.

Minutes after the first blast, a second explosion took place hitting Jerry Shoppers Plaza.

The blast happened at the baggage area, instantly killing Badelles and Suico.

“Matagal nang may banta dito. Nagro-roving ang pulis natin,” said Iligan City police chief Senior Superintendent Vigilio Ranes. “Pero wala pong nag-iinspeksyon sa baggage counter. Responsibilidad na kasi iyan ng tindahan."

Investigators had no immediate motive or suspects.

The military, meanwhile, said they earlier received reports that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was planning to attack Iligan City this December.

Investigation ongoing
Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz said investigators are currently studying the CCTV footage that reportedly captured the images of the suspects.

“We will review the recorded CCTV to be very sure na ito nga ang mga nangyari… titingnan natin kung ito ang mga gumawa ng pambobomba,” Cruz told ANC’s Top Story.

He added that investigations are still ongoing as they are currently gathering more evidence that could shed light on the identities of the suspected bombers.

Cruz also said the victims who were injured by the twin blasts are being given utmost medical attention.

“Immediately two ang patay, may ibang malubha. Many are in critical condition. Twenty-seven are wounded and maybe about three to five are critical,” he said.

An earlier report said thirty people were being treated at the Doctor Uy hospital for blast injuries, hospital staff said, while six other injured people were awaiting transport from the scene of the blast.

Malacañang condemns attack
Malacañang has condemned the twin blasts in Iligan City, branding them as a mindless terrorist attack.

“We condemn this mindless terrorist attack on civilians in Iligan. We condole with the families whose loved ones have become hapless victims of these murderous acts,” said Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential spokesman.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez meanwhile said President Arroyo has condemned “the ruthless and violent acts of terrorism against our communities.”

Golez said the government “will not stop hunting these terrorists until they are put behind bars and we urge our people to coordinate with our law enforcers as to any information that might lead to the arrest of those responsible.”

He said the police and the military would be relentless in pursuing the perpetrators of the bombings.

Dureza meanwhile called on the people to “remain steadfast and vigilant and not allow such dastardly acts to further terrorize us."

No claims yet
A military spokesman, Lt. Steffani Cacho, said that no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"We're sending our bomb experts to help local authorities investigate and identify groups behind the attack," Cacho told reporters.

The southern Philippines region of Mindanao is the hotbed of a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency that has, in recent years, been suspected of harboring Islamic militants with ties to the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

Five people were wounded in two blasts on Dec. 4 in another part of Mindanao, which Army officials blamed on “rogue” Muslim rebels.

There have been at least three bomb attacks on bus terminals in Mindanao since July as violence escalated after Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim rebel group, failed to sign a territory deal in August.

Iligan is a Muslim-Christian entrepot of about 300,000 people on Mindanao island's north coast. With reports from AFP, Reuters, Roxanne Arevalo, ABS-CBN Iligan