Grenade kills 2, hurts 8 in Dimaporos’ assembly

PANTAR, Lanao del Norte — A grenade lobbed at an assembly of village leaders here killed a councilman and a child and wounded at least eight people last Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Abdullah Dimaporo and his wife, Imelda Dimaporo, the second district congressman and governor, respectively, of Lanao del Norte, called the consultative meeting to discuss civic projects for the area.

The grenade was hurled at the stage where the couple was addressing about 1,000 village leaders, but it landed on the roof and dropped onto a car before exploding, said Army Lt. Col. Rogelio Villanueva.

The congressman, who was several meters from the blast, was unharmed but his driver was among the injured, Villanueva said. The governor had left earlier after giving her speech.

At least three men were seen running away from the scene after the explosion.

Richelieu Umel, provincial information officer, said a certain Pacasira Pansayan, a councilman of Barangay Kabasaran here, and an unidentified five-year-old child died while they were being treated at a government hospital in nearby Iligan City.

There were no immediate suspects but the military believes the attack could be related to the May 10 polls where the Dimaporos are running for re-election.

Lydon Calica, the congressman’s political officer, said the attack could be politically motivated or prompted by a family feud. He did not elaborate.

The congressman, in a television interview, blamed politics for the grenade attack.

The campaign for congressional and municipal seats is not allowed before March, but politicians skirt the prohibition by calling meetings, which they call "consultative assemblies."

Violence, including assassination of candidates, during election campaigns is common in the Philippines.

About 450,000 candidates are expected to contest more than 12,000 national, congressional and local positions — from the presidency to municipal posts. — With wire reports