TAGUM CITY, Philippines -- Three people were killed and a dozen others hurt in a grenade attack on a bakeshop in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley early Thursday, police and local authorities said.

Compostela Valley Governor Arthur Uy, who earlier erroneously said four people died in the blast, has offered a P200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Jennifer Echavez, municipal information officer, said most of the blast victims were participants of a dance competition who were taking a snack inside the Park 'N Go Bakeshoppe in Barangay (village) Poblacion when the attack occurred at around 12:03 a.m. (not 5:15 a.m. as earlier reported).

Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, Compostela Valley police director, identified the fatalities as Grace Agura, 17; Renel Campitan, 18; and Rodel Lambungon.

Echavez said the casualties were brought to the Davao Regional Hospital here.

"Everyone is trying to help the victims now. The local government is going to extend initial financial aid to the victims. The provincial and congressional offices, too, have sent their staff to the hospital to assist in any possible way," Echavez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) in a phone interview.

Earlier, Major Armand Rico, spokesman of the 10th infantry division, claimed the communist New People’s Army was behind the blast and that extortion was the movie.

But police said they have yet to identify the perpetrators.

"We are still investigating if the victims were really the targets," said Chief Inspector Roderico Roy Jr., town police chief.

Dela Rosa said there were three attackers, including a woman, who fled on motorcycles.

The attackers shot it out with a policeman in plainclothes who happened to be in the area. One of the suspects was hit and fell off the vehicle he was on but his companions, including the woman who was on another motorcycle, helped him. They fled in the direction of Montevista town, Dela Rosa said.