Grenade attack injures 5 in Matalam
Local News • 00:08 AM Sun Dec 6, 2015
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By:
DXND-AM Radyo Bida
Matalam, North Cotabato welcome rotunda. (northcotabato.gov.ph)
MATALAM, North Cotabato–- Police authorities in North Cotabato are hunting down two
men who tossed a hand grenade on a motorcycle loaded with passengers in Matalam
town on Friday night, police said today.
Five
persons were wounded in Barangay Poblacion, Matalam, North Cotabato in yet
another grenade attack in the province that happened near the town’s welcome
rotunda.
Chief
Insp. Sonny Leoncito, Matalam town police chief, said the grenade attack
occurred at about 11 p.m. leaving five commuters injured.
Leoncito
identified the injured as tricycle driver Macmod Kanakan, 24 of Barangay
Kilada, Matalam, Dandan Alam, 28, Datu Dilangalen, 32 of Datu Montawala town in
Maguidnanao, Gerardo Peralta Jr of Makilala, North Cotabato and Sharon Diaz, 35
of Matalam.
The
victims were on board a tricycle driven by Kanakan. They were rushed to North
Cotabato provincial hospital in Kidapawan City.
Police
believed Kanakan was the target of two motorcycle riding men who tossed the
explosive while the tricycle was heading to the town center.
He
told police investigators that shortly before the attack, he noticed two or
three motorbikes appeared to be tailing on him while he was driving.
Kanakan
told police he had no known enemies and that he could not see any reason why he
was subjected to grenade attack.
Matalam
is a town adjacent to Kabacan where two weeks ago was rocked by a five grenade
attacks, leaving six persons wounded.
The
prime suspect in the bombing was arrested by North Cotabato police during a
raid. Grenades, hand guns and illegal
drugs were seized from Omar Sultan, alias Gani Manok,” believed to be leader
of local gun for hire syndicate.
His
companions remained at large.
Leoncito
could not say whether or not the suspects in Kabacan grenade attacks were the
same group that carried Friday night’s bombing in Matalam.