PNP, Army differ in probe findings over Nov. 14 grenade blast in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY -- Police and military authorities differ in its finding in the grenade blast on Nov. 14 along Sinsuat Avenue here that left two soldiers and two other civilians wounded.Speaking during the Cotabato City Council session, Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, city police director, said the blast which also damaged the Army Special Forces Battalion KM-450 truck and two cargo trucks was accidental.Supiter told city legislators the 40 mm grenade came from one of the soldiers who accidentally fired his grenade launcher.He said witnesses' statement showed no motorcycle riding men fired a rifle grenade.But Supiter admitted he based his statement on the testimonies of eye witnesses. Police investigators are yet to receive statement from the two wounded soldiers.He said the soldier carrying M-79 launcher could have been stunned when the military truck he was riding was bumped by a truck from behind.But Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, SAF battalion commander, has another version of the incident.It was impossible for his men, he said, to have accidentally fire an M-79 grenade launcher since soldiers on patrol do not carry grenade launcher.Second, he said, the injured soldiers are still recuperating.Earlier, Sevilla blamed Ruben Montes alias Black Moro to be behind the attack on his men after the SAF neutralized Montes' followers in a shootout along SK Pendatun Avenue, Cotabato City in September.He also revealed in media interviews that Montes is being coddled by an elected city official. He did not name the official.