16 hurt, including seven soldiers, in Cotabato City blast

December 22, 2019

Sixteen people were injured, including seven soldiers, after teenagers allegedly threw a grenade at a military vehicle in Cotabato City Sunday evening.

In her Facebook post, Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani- Sayadi, said: “Tonight is a sad and unfortunate night for all Cotabatenios. As of this time 16 are reported wounded after a grenade explosion transpired at Tantawan and Quezon Avenue area earlier tonight.”

Guiani-Sayadi said police and the military have the situation under control and she appealed to the public to remain calm.

A lockdown was initially implemented in the city but was immediately lifted after the site of incident was cleared.

According to a military report, the incident transpired around 6 pm near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Church where a mass was going on.

“The suspects described as teenagers aged around 15 years old threw a grenade at a military vehicle belonging to the Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) of the Philippine Army,” it said.

The troops were the advance party for President Rodrigo Duterte on Cotabato City Monday to distribute land ownership awards to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The wounded soldiers and other victims were brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Major Arvin Encinas,  spokesman  of the Western Mindanao Command, said separate blasts also took place at PC Hill and Libungan, North Cotabato a few minutes after the incident.

Earlier, DRC forces recovered two suspected improvised explosive devices in Sinsuat Avenue. These were detonated by Philippine National Police- Explosive Ordinance Division (PNP-EOD). Ella Dionisio/DMS