Cotabato cop, companion hurt in blast

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato—A policeman and a non-uniformed personnel were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted beside the highway in Barangay (village) Sikitan exploded and hit the patrol car of the Arakan, North Cotabato police office on Friday morning.

Senior Inspector Argie Celeste, the Arakan police chief, identified the injured policeman as PO1 Ronald Española but did not provide the name of the police’s civilian employee.

Celeste said the Arakan PNP police car was on its way to the provincial headquarters when the explosion took place.

Both blast victims were rushed to a hospital here.

Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista called on civilians to be vigilant amid the blast, which took place as government forces were battling communist rebels in Arakan town./rga