Google map of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – A powerful blast from a grenade hit the town hall here around 1 a.m. Monday several hours before the distribution of election materials for the midterm polls. Nobody was hurt in the blast that was captured by closed-circuit TV cameras.
Lt. Colonel Sabri Lakibul, Datu Odin Sinsuat town police chief, said a grenade caused the explosion. Lakibul said CCTV captured two men on a motorbike tossing what looked like a hand grenade and sped away.
“The motive was simply to sow fear,” Lakibul said. Distribution of election materials continued as scheduled at 2 a.m. with the deployment of additional police and soldiers.
The blast in Datu Odin came about three hours after two rifle grenades fired from a distance exploded some 20 meters away at the back fence of the Cotabato City hall, about 40 kilometers away from here.
There were no reported victims in the Datu Odin Sinsuat town and Cotabato City blasts. (PNA)
