KIDAPAWAN CITY (April 15/Sunday) – Police have identified two of the four suspects in the grenade attack last Saturday in Aleosan town in North Cotabato that killed three and injured 33 others, Sr. Supt. Cornelio Salinas, provincial police chief said.
The grenade was tossed at the center of the cockpit where hundreds of spectators were watching a cockfight at 11:25 a.m. on Saturday.
Salinas said the suspects are all members of the Moro Islamic LiberationFront (MILF) who were targeting Quilos Manalinding, councilor of Barangay Lawili in Aleosan town and also one of the top leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) there.
But Salinas added that although the suspects were MILF members and the target was from the MNLF, “I think the attack was more of a personal grudge.”
Manalinding was among those hurt during the grenade blast, reports said.
Salinas said the conflict started when the wife of the one of the MILF commanders in nearby Midsayap, also in North Cotabato, was killed.
The killing was blamed on Manalinding and his men.
“Whenthe suspects confirmed the presence of Manalinding in the cockpit last Saturday,they staged the attack,” he said.
The names of the suspects were not made available by the police, pending the filing of charges against them on Monday.
Killedin the grenade attack last Saturday were Fermin Caloquin, Vicente Sabando, andJose Mario dela Pena, all residents of Aleosan town.
Wounded were Manalinding, 57; Elizardo Pastolero, 40; Felix Palag, 57; BenitoCabangisan, 59; Hermie Canaway, 21; Remie Sabando, 22; Domingo Cabaluna, 46; SilvestreBernadio, 41; Jobert dela Pena, 44; Primo Claro, 50; Tito Cagbay, 31; ModestoBarte, 36; Romeo Camancho, 38; Joey Camino, 27; Ronald Calaor, 30; RodelSalares, 22; Antonio Aquita, 44; Loperto dela Pena, 19; William Estrellado, 53;Renanto Magsipoc; Vicente Saga, 44; Joseph Antonio, 24; Rex Cabalfin, 31; MameroCansancio, 36; George Cansancio, 33; Victor Caballero, 26; Glen Tahad, 31;Jonas Salupiza, 36; Jimmy Osorio, 36; Bernardo Caingcoy, 38; Inicito Quinones,63; Hononcio Banisio, 50; and Lazaro Pastolero, 38. (Malu Manar/MindaNews)