Motorcycle driver hurt in grenade attack at gas station in North Cotabato

PIKIT, North Cotabato — A 19-year-old motorist was injured in a grenade attack Saturday night in front of a gasoline station here in what police believed was triggered by a “rido” (family feud).

Senior Insp. Sindatu Karim, Pikit town police chief, said the 7:30 p.m. explosion occurred in front of the Petron Gas station along a road in Barangay Batulawan, near an Army detachment and injured motorist Pangga Muslimin.

Karim, citing police investigation, said the two suspects were on board a motorbike and tossed a fragmentation grenade in front of the gas station.

Muslimin was on board a separate motorbike and was hit by shrapnel.

No one has claimed responsibility.

Investigators are also looking at extortion as a possible motive but Karim said gas station owners denied receiving extortion demand.  SFM