NIA bomb attack a harassment - Midsayap PNP

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato - Police authorities believed the bomb attack against the regional office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-12) in Barangay Villarica here was a form of harassment.Supt. Reynante delos Santos, Midsayap police chief, said the explosion and the discovery of another improvised bomb happened atNIA compound Tuesday when it was not yetoffice hours.Despite the incident, NIA-12 37th foundation anniversary celebrations continued today.Delos Santos said the explosives converted into an improvised bomb (IED) were made of a live ammunition of rocket propelled grenadeand fragmentation grenade.It was lobbed a few meters away by still unidentified suspects at past 5 a.m. The one that exploded was a fragmentation grenade near the office flag pole, delos Santos said. The other IED, composed of a RPG and fuse ofMK-II grenade was found near the Commission on Audit internal office.Quoting an unidentified security guard on duty, delos Santos said the two explosives were lobbed by still unidentified men on board a motorbike. He just heard a loud thud followed by a loud explosion, Delos Santos quoted the guard as saying.Ali Satol, NIA-12 regional director, told police investigators he has no known enemies and that he has not been receiving threats to his life.Nobody was hurt in the incident except shattered window glass of COA office.Delos Santos said police investigators are also looking at the link between the NIA bomb attack and the shooting of a man just 30 meters away from NIA compound.He said Arnold Sidavia, 51, a former Marine member, was standing along the highway waiting for a ride to Cotabato City where he worked as security officer.Two men riding on a motorbike passed by in front of Sidavia, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Midsayap, and shot him twice in his chest.Delos Santos said bystanders rushed Sidavia to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The police chief theorized the suspect in the killing of Sidavia could be the look out in the NIA bomb attack who thought he saw the attacker.