Grenade blast rocks N. Cotabato anew: 3 hurt

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Three people, including a village official, were injured when a fragmentation grenade went off a few feet away from an abandoned Army detachment in Pikit town in North Cotabato at around 8:20 p.m. Thursday.

Senior Inspector Elias Dandan, chief of Pikit police, identified the victims as Gilbert Perdida, village councilman of Kapinpilan, Midsayap; Renante Duelo; and Datuan Patugkain.

Dandan said Perdida and Duelo were onboard a tricycle driven by Patugkain, when the blast happened.

Perdida and Duelo, according to Dandan, had just attended a meeting in Pikit and decided to return to their place in Midsayap town.

While on their way, another motorcycle, was headed towards their direction.

One of the passengers lobbed a grenade and tossed it near the victims' direction, reports said.

The victims were brought to a hospital in Pikit town for treatment.

Authorities have yet to find out the motive and those behind the blast.

Last September, another grenade went off just outside the Army detachment where four Cafgu members detailed at the area were wounded.

After the incident, the Army decided to abandon the outpost, Dandan said. (MCM)