Maguindanao, Cotabato City blasts not election-related — PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The explosions in Cotabato City and in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao were not election-related, the Philippine National Police (PNP) assured Monday afternoon.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde explained that the explosion incidents “have no connection with the elections.”

“All these incidents happened away from the polling places and so far, based on initial investigation, they have no connection with the elections,” Albayalde said in an afternoon press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The PNP has recorded a total of three explosion incidents since late night Sunday and Monday morning, Election day.

Two improvised explosive devices (EIDs) exploded at a vacant lot at Purok Omar, Cotabato City at about 10:04 p.m. on Sunday, Albayalde said.

Meanwhile, two more explosions occurred at 1:05 a.m. and 7:10 a.m. on Monday at Poblacion Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao. Albayalde said one hand grenade was believed to be thrown by unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects.

READ: Blasts rock Cotabato City, Maguindanao — police | Another blast rocks Maguindanao town

Albayalde, however, explained that the explosions were not meant to hurt anybody.

“They’re not intended to hurt anybody. Parang ang intention no’n is parang nagpaparamdam, nagpapakilala,” he said.

He assured that the PNP’s “level of operational readiness and vigilance will be maintained until the election process.”

The PNP chief said the elections have so far been “relatively peaceful” and no major untoward incident has disrupted the election proper.

“Aside from some confusion, administrative delay and queuing during the opening hours of the elections, there were no major untoward incidents that disrupted the holding of election proper,” Albayalde assured.

Shooting incident in Sulu ‘election-related’

Meanwhile, the shooting incident outside a polling center at Panglima Estino, Sulu, is “highly probable” that it is “election-related,” Albayalde said.

“‘Yung incident sa Sulu, it’s highly probable that it’s election-related because it transpired very near the polling center mismo,” he said.

Police has not yet pinpointed a possible suspect to the shooting incident that injured five civilians, Albayalde said.

“As of this time, wala pang report na suspects ‘yung ating mga police doon,” the PNP chief said.

“We’re still verifying how far really yung nangyari doon sa polling center. Kasi it should be, doon sa polling center, kung sinasabi talagang malapit doon, there should be security forces present there,” he added. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)