5 hurt in 2 blasts in Maguindanao village

UPI, Maguindanao–Five persons, including a police officer, were wounded in separate explosions in a remote village here on Friday evening.

The first explosion took place around 8 p.m. during a basketball game in Barangay Borongotan, Maguindanao police director Senior Supt. Agustin Tello said.

The blast occurred when a misunderstanding took place between rival players. Four people, including one of the players were injured in the first blast, which was apparently caused by a grenade, Tello added.

A team from the Upi police responded but as the patrol car they were riding in neared the basketball court, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off, he said.

The patrol car’s driver, identified as 28-year-old Police Officer 1 Marjun Lahaylahay, was hit and was injured.

Lahaylahay and the four other blast victims were rushed to a hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds, according to Tello.

“Apparently the improvised bomb was meant for the responding law enforcers,” Tello said.

Mayor Ramon Piang of Upi condemned the grenade attack and called on his constituents to remain vigilant against groups out to create trouble in the town.

Piang said he was told the police were now following up leads over the twin explosions.