1 killed, 8 wounded in grenade explosions

ZAMBOANGA CITY — One person was killed while eight others were wounded in two separate grenade explosions that rocked Sulu and Maguindanao provinces, military official said here.

Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko said the first grenade explosion occurred in Dos town last Friday, killing one person, identified as Abu Nalud, and wounding four others.

Investigation showed that Nalud was toying with a fragmentation grenade when it accidentally exploded at 8:30p.m, killing him on the spot and wounding his companions.

Hours later an unidentified man lobbed a hand grenade at the residence of lawyer Ulka Ulama in Barangay San Reymundo in Jolo, Sulu.

Kyamko said Ulama, along with three other relatives identified as Zeus Claus Ulama, Julhamin Jamdain and Amirul Ulama were slightly wounded by the explosion. Police believe the case to be triggered by a personal grudge.

"The recent grenade attack in Jolo is not related to the spate of bombings the other week that were suspected as the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf," Kyamko clarified. — Roel Pareño