2 hurt in grenade blast in North Cotabato highway

MIDSAYAP, Philippines—Two persons, including a minor, were hurt in a grenade explosion along the national highway in Midsayap in North Cotabato Tuesday night, police reported.

Superintendent Franklin Anito, Midsayap police chief, said the blast occurred at about 8:20 p.m. in front of a businessman’s house in Barangay (village) Villarica.

Barangay (village) councilman James Llaban identified one of the wounded as Nenita Benitez, 64. She and the minor victim were being treated from shrapnel injuries at a local hospital, as of Tuesday night.

Llaban said the grenade was tossed near the steel gate of the house of Gerry Gornez, who has been operating a buy-and-sell business.

Police recovered the grenade’s safety pin near the blast scene.

Quoting witnesses, Llaban said that shortly before the blast, which happened while Midsayap had been having a power outage, a van was seen speeding away.

Anito said the police were still clueless on the motive of the attack.