PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Monday, October 25, ordered a thorough probe into a grenade blast that happened over the weekend near an Army detachment in Maguindanao.

Eleazar said the blast happened on Saturday, October 23, just as a convoy of some 20 to 30 vehicles of Maguindanao Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and his group passed by the military detachment in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.

He said the hand grenade was thrown toward the direction of the Philippine Army detachment.

“Our police investigators should not leave any stone unturned in determining the motive and identifying the perpetrator of the grenade blast. Lahat ng anggulo ay ating titingnan sa insidenteng ito (We are looking into all angles),” Eleazar said.

“Isa lang sa maraming posibleng motibo sa insidente ang sinasabing pagtarget kay Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu ng pagpapasabog. Maaari rin kasing nagkataon lang na dumaan ang convoy ni Rep. Mangudadatu nang naganap ang insidente. Pero agad makikipag-ugnayan ang ating mga imbestigador sa kongresista pati na rin sa mga sundalong nakatalaga sa Army detachment para kumuha pa ng ibang detalye,” he added.

Mangudadatu has filed his certificate of candidacy for governor of the province ahead of the 2022 national and local elections.

Meanwhile, Eleazar directed all police units and offices in the region to remain vigilant and to work with the military to prevent any attacks from lawless elements, especially during this election season. (SunStar Philippines)