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Monday, March 3, 2014

Grenade blast hurts 8 in North Cotabato public market


MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, March 4 (PNA) -- At least eight people were injured Monday night when a hand grenade exploded inside this town’s public market, police said.

Senior Inspector Henry Narciso, deputy police chief, said witnesses saw one of two motorcycle-riding men hurled a fragmentation grenade at the fish stalls and hurriedly fled.

The blast came while the town was experiencing power interruption at 8:40 p.m, Narciso said.
The blast injured Kryza Jane Torrejas, 13; Virginia Cablas, 56; Quintin Trastisa, 32; Anne Pocapotan, 14; Paula Angelie Masicampo, 20; Rodrigo Cataytay Jr., 31; Bernie Cuerpo, 22; and Charles Monsanto Guhitia, 22, all residents of Midsayap.

“The victims were among the market vendors closing shop at the time of the blast, we are still investigating as of now,” Narciso said.

Cablas said she first heard a loud thud followed by a loud blast seconds later.
Guhitia who sustained shrapnel wounds in the head was rushed to Davao City for further treatment.

Narciso said the fragmentation grenade landed right beside Guhitia who was sitting in one of the market stalls.

The victims were immediately rushed to different hospitals for medication.

Among the motives police investigators are now looking into are rivalry among fish vendors or sabotage act by companions of persons involved carnapping cases.

“We have so many arrested persons involved in carnapping, their companions might have retaliated, but the rivalry issue is the likely motive,” he said.

Residents of Midsayap are no stranger to bombings, having witnessed in many years, and until lately, attacks by extortionists and by the renegade Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Army intelligence officials in North Cotabato said there is a possibility that the BIFF was behind the latest bombing in Midsayap. (PNA)
JBP/NYP/EOF

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