Mayor of Pikit in Cotabato asks police to tighten watch after bombing

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato, Philippines — Mayor Sumulong Sultan of Pikit town, Cotabato province has asked the police to tighten their watch over the local peace and order situation following the recent attack against an unmanned military detachment on Wednesday evening.

Sultan also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and share information to authorities about suspicious activities by individuals so that their ill plans could be thwarted.

Beginning on Thursday morning, the level of activity at the Pikit town center dipped following the grenade-throwing incident the evening before. There was also an increased presence of military and police personnel in the town.

Although no one was hurt in the explosion, it caused damage to the wall and glass windows of the nearby Tourism Office and the Go Negosyo building.

Maj. Maxim Peralta, the town’s police chief, said the still-unidentified bombers lobbed an MK2 hand grenade beside the military detachment.

The explosion also created a small crater beside the concrete road.

The explosion happened a day after the killing of a councilor of Barangay Gokotan who was believed to be an asset of the authorities.

Barangay Gokotan was recently raided by the police to arrest an alleged notorious criminal involved in carnapping and gunrunning, resulting in the death of five individuals.

The operation became controversial as many residents disputed the police account of the raid.

ATM