2 killed, 34 injured by grenade at cockfight arena

ALEOSAN, North Cotabato, Philippines—Celebrations marking the foundation day of a  remote village here turned bloody when a man tossed a hand grenade in the midst of the traditional cockfighting, killing two persons and wounding 34 others.

Mayor Loreto Cabaya said the incident happened at 1:45 p.m. Saturday in Sitio (sub-village) Lapu-Lapu in Barangay (village) Lawili.

The village was celebrating its founding anniversary and cockfighting, locally known as “tari-tari,” was part of the festivities.

Citing a police field report, Cabaya said two cocks were fighting in the makeshift arena and people were chanting and yelling when a man tossed a fragmentation grenade.

“I condemn this act. I already ordered the police to hunt down the suspect who was also a village resident,” Cabaya said.

The male fatalities remained unidentified as of posting time. Most of the wounded victims, all males, were rushed to hospitals in nearby Midsayap, also in North Cotabato, and the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

Cabaya said among the wounded was village councilman Datu Quilos, who was taken to the North Cotabato provincial hospital in Kidapawan City.

Cabaya said Quilos told investigators he saw the man who lobbed the grenade but did not know him by name.

“The motive remains unknown as of now,” Cabaya said.