8 hurt in grenade attacks in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY—Eight persons, including two soldiers, were hurt in two separate grenade attacks here and in Kabacan, North Cotabato, Saturday evening, police said.

The first attack occurred at 6:30 p.m. near the public market of Kabacan that left five persons wounded, including two minors.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson, said two men riding on a motorbike lobbed the hand grenade at the corner of Rizal Avenue and Malvar Streets.

Wounded were Johainna Pops Alon, 17; Berlie Baluyot, 46; Rosalie Parenas, 36; John Clark Opena, 13, and Gerardo Moya, 48, all residents of Poblacion Kabacan.

Tayong said the suspects sped toward Barangay Kayaga, also in Kabacan. He said motive of the attack and the perpetrators remained unknown.

About an hour later, two men riding on a motorbike also tossed a hand grenade at two parked vehicle while soldiers conducting patrol on board a vehicle were passing by.

The blast occurred at the corner of Sinsuat Avenue and Rosales Street at 7:30 p.m.

Wounded were Private First Classes Romer Agustin, 27, and Noel Ganab, 28, both of the Army Special Forces Battalion, and student Mohaimen Biron, 21, who was passing by at the time of the blast.

Police said the explosion also damaged two cargo trucks parked nearby and a passing vehicle.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.