A POLICE regional official said investigators are looking at the possibility that the December 7 grenade attack in Iligan City may not be a terror attack but may be directed at a specific individual or business establishment.
Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Surki Sereñas said the police have also activated a special task force to investigate and identify the perpetrators of the attack.
Initial investigation revealed a man wearing a black bonnet and jacket supposedly threw the grenade that injured four people at the city plaza.
Witnesses said the suspect immediately fled towards the direction of Roosevelt, Saray, Iligan City.
A safety lever of the fragmentation grenade was found by the post blast investigation team in the area.
The police advised the public to remain calm and to cooperate with the Philippine National Police and other government security forces in the effort to maintain normalcy, peace and order.
Sereñas said the incident, despite not causing significant damage to properties, has nevertheless sowed fear among Iligan City residents and in the region.
But Sereñas emphasized Iligan City remains safe with police firmly in control of the situation.
He said joint government security forces in the entire region has also been strengthened in the wake of the grenade attack and military operations continue against the Maute terror group in Butig, Lanao del Sur.
“The public is advised to be extra vigilant and watchful and report to authorities anything suspicious within sight to prevent occurrence of similar incident in the future,” Sereñas said.
The grenade attack at about 6:20 p.m., Wednesday injured four people identified by the Iligan City Police Office as Laureto Carabantes, 26, Cristine Mercaderos, 20, Cheryl Paquit, 26 and Shielamae Maagad, 23.
All four are now in stable condition.
Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) Chief Ronnie Francis Cariaga has ordered his men not to lose guard and intensify security measures in the city.
Cariaga said over a local radio that the number of policemen patrolling around public convergence areas such as shopping malls, ports and terminals have been doubled to ensure the safety of city residents.
Cariaga said the Cocpo has also intensified intelligence monitoring to thwart terror attacks in the city.