Suspect in Magpet village blast known, Army say

MAGPET, North
Cotabato – Military and police authorities here have identified one or two
suspects in the explosion in Barangay Balete on Wednesday night.

First
Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion Charlie
Company, refused to name the suspect who planted an improvised explosive device
(IED) at an under construction house near the village basketball court where
the soldiers were stationed.

Earlier
report said a rifle grenade was fired from a distance.

Sema said the
IED composed of cut iron and nails was placed in a bag left the unfinished
house by one or two persons who posed as carpenters.

No one has
claimed responsibility for the attack but Colonel Nilo Vinluan, 57th
IB chief, earlier claimed the attack was carried bycommunist New Peoples Army.

Sema said the
IED was clearly intended for soldiers in the village who are conducting peace
and development program which the NPAs have opposed.