11 injured in grenade, rocket attacks in Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Eleven people were injured in separate rocket and grenade attacks in the restive island of Mindanao, where government forces are fighting Muslim and communists separatist rebels. Officials said nine people, including five teenagers, were wounded in a grenade attack in Surigao del Norte province late Friday after an unidentified assailant hurled the explosive at a crowd in the village of Urbiztondo in Claver town, a known stronghold of the communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels. "Nine people were injured in the grenade blast and we still don't know the motive of the attack," said Maj. Armand Rico, a regional army spokesman. It was unknown if the NPA had anything to do with the blast. Two villagers were also injured in a rocket attack also on Friday in the town of Kiamba in Sarangani province. The attack was largely blamed by the military to rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim rebel group fighting for a separate homeland in Mindanao. Rico said security forces also raided a house in General Santos City and arrested its occupant, Rolando Suplaag, after soldiers and policemen recovered an M18A1 claymore mine, a firing device and five meters of electrical wire. "Suplaag is still being investigated," he said. The M18A1 claymore mine is lens-shaped, ground-emplaced antipersonnel explosive and is used primarily in ambushes and as an anti-infiltration device against enemy infantry. Manila suspended peace talks with both the NPA and the MILF, which accused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of reneging on a deal. GMANews.TV