Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar directed the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to conduct a thorough probe into the hand grenade blast that transpired near an Army detachment in Maguindanao last Saturday (Oct. 23).
The grenade blast happened just as a convoy of some 20 to 30 vehicles of Maguindanao Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and his group passed by the military detachment in Guindulungan, Maguindanao on Saturday.
“Our police investigators should not leave any stone unturned in determining the motive and identifying the perpetrator of the grenade blast. Lahat ng anggulo ay ating titingnan sa insidenteng ito,” Eleazar said.
Initial information stated that a hand grenade was thrown towards the direction of the Philippine Army detachment, which then exploded. Mangudadatu’s convoy was passing nearby when the blast happened.
“Isa lang sa maraming posibleng motibo sa insidente ang sinasabing pag-target kay Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu ng pagpapasabog. Maaari rin kasing nagkataon lang na dumaan ang convoy ni Rep. Mangudadatu nang naganap ang insidente,” the PNP Chief pointed out.
“Pero agad makikipag-ugnayan ang ating mga imbestigador sa kongresista pati na rin sa mga sundalong nakatalaga sa Army detachment para kumuha pa ng ibang detalye,” the PNP chief added.
Mangudadatu is eyeing the gubernatorial post of the province in the 2022 national and local elections.
Meanwhile, Eleazar directed all police units and offices in the region to remain vigilant and to work with the military to prevent any attacks from lawless elements, especially during this election season. (PNP-PIO) – bny
