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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/5 January) – Two 40mm fragmentation grenades launched from an unknown direction exploded Friday night just a few meters away from a military detachment in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao, an official said.
No one was hurt during the explosion, according to Col. Prudencio Asto, public affairs chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Asto refused to identify the group behind the latest attack, although he gave a hint that they’re the same lawless group involved in previous attacks against the military in the area.
“We’re certain this group perpetuated these attacks to sow terror, fear,” he said.
The grenades, he explained, were fired from a purpose-built grenade launcher.
A 40mm grenade could inflict damage similar to a hand grenade.
“Though no one was hurt during the explosions, residents nearby panicked when they heard the loud blasts,” Asto said.
Friday’s explosion came a day after the discovery of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed at the entrance of the compound of the Shariff Aguak municipal town hall.
The IEDs were defused later by operatives of the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal team of the Philippine Army. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)