Soldier, 2 others hurt in Cotabato grenade blast

MANILA, Philippines - An Army enlisted personnel and two civilians were wounded following a grenade blast in the southern Philippines province of Cotabato Wednesday, a regional police spokesman said. Citing field reports, Superintendent Arpha Abul Kyr Macalangcom of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 said the explosion occurred 8:45 a.m. in front of the Ivy store located beside the Medical Specialist Hospital along the National Highway in Kabacan town. Those wounded were identified as Sgt. Dimalon Isla of the 38th Infantry Battalion, Teodolo Pinongpong, tricycle driver, and Guilbert Leorque. Macalangcom said initial investigation showed that prior to the blast, Isla went out of the hospital to buy cigarette when he noticed two unidentified males standing at the store. The two left immediately but returned moments later, hurling a hand grenade toward the direction of Isla. The explosion left Isla, Pinongpong and Leorque suffering shrapnel wounds. Authorities suspect personal grudge to be the motive behind the grenade throwing incident. - GMANews.TV