COTABATO CITY – Another explosion took place in Brgy. Marbel (Embac), Kidapawan City in North Cotabato past 2 p.m., Friday, May 26, hurting two policemen.
The incident happened five hours after an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated by the side of the highway in Barangay Sikitan, also in Kidapawan, that injured a policeman and a non-uniformed personnel (NUP).
Perpetrators allegedly targeted the patrol car of the Magpet, North Cotabato police that was passing by an intersection in Marbel, according to an initial report by authorities.
Casualties of the afternoon explosion were identified as police officers 1 Kenneth Enghog and Jonvel Baliguat, who were rushed to the Kidapawan City Hospital.
Victims of the morning blast, meanwhile, were identified as PO1 Ronald Espanola and a certain NUP Emerilla, who both sustained leg injuries.
Senior Inspector Argie Celeste, chief of Arakan police, said his men were heading to the Cotabato Police Provincial Office headquarters in Amas, Kidapawan on board their patrol car when the attack took place around 9 a.m.
“Aboard our patrol vehicle were police officers and three NUP who were supposed to attend an investigation seminar in Kidapawan City,” he said.
As they approached Barangay Sikitan, a roadside bomb exploded, wounding Espanola and Emerilla.
Celeste did not yet say who could be behind the roadside bombing. He said investigation was ongoing.
Meanwhile, a bomb scare was reported in a mall in Kidapawan past 1 p.m., Friday.
Authorities are still investigating the veracity of the report that an explosive was planted in the shopping complex.