JOINT police and Philippine Marine troops have launched a manhunt against two men blamed for the twin explosions in Upi, Maguindanao on Friday evening, which injured a police officer and four civilians.
The first explosion, believed to be from a fragmentation grenade, occurred at past 7:45 p.m. beside a basketball court at the Borongotan Elementary School in the village of Borongotan, according to Maguindanao Police Director, Senior Supt. Agustin Tello.
He said the first blast wounded a basketball player and three spectators.
“There was a misunderstanding during the game and suddenly a fragmentation grenade was lobbed from nowhere and exploded,” Tello said, quoting a report from the Upi Police.
The second explosion happened at about 8 p.m., a few meters away from the basketball court, and believed to have been intended for responding police officers.
The blast injured PO1 Police Officer 2 Marjune Lahaylahay of the local police force.
Mayor Ramon Piang condemned the grenade attack, saying “we are peace-loving people here.”
“I condemn this act against our peace-loving people,” Piang added.
He appealed to his constituents to remain vigilant against groups out to create chaos in his peaceful town.
Piang said the local police is following up a lead that could identify and possibly arrest the perpetrators.
In December last year, suspected Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, attacked a police outpost in Barangay Poblacion here and set off a roadside bomb that injured seven Marine officers.
