2 killed, 7 hurt in GenSan explosion

CAMP SIONGCO — An old grudge might have led to Thursday night’s grenade attack at the public market in General Santos City which left two persons dead and caused serious injuries to seven others, five of them teenagers.

According to police and military intelligence sources, it was unlikely for either the Abu Sayyaf or the Jemaah Islamiyah to have pulled off the bombing where a fragmentation grenade was only used.

The two terror groups are known for their "trademark" explosives fashioned from powerful mortar projectiles rigged with battery-operated, time-delayed blasting mechanisms.

Chief Superintendent German Doria, Region 12 police director, said he has tasked more than 50 intelligence agents in General Santos City and in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani to help identify the people responsible for the bombing.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, civil-military affairs chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said they have fielded plainclothes operatives to help the police gather information on the attack.

General Santos officials are convinced that an old grudge or an extortion attempt could have led to the bombing.

Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said the attack was an "isolated case" and that city residents should not be alarmed.

The explosion left Rodolfo Javier Salas, 52; and Editha Bocadon Dava, 40, dead.

Those wounded were identified as Angel Canoto Bocadon, 34; Junaid Cabogatan, 17; Ruvyl Watin, 17; Marilou Matos, 18; Maribeth Jovita, 29; Romy Roquiña, 17; and John Lucena, 17.

In a report to Camp Crame, Senior Superintendent Rolando Dalangin, deputy regional chief for operations, said two teenagers aged 16 and 17 were arrested in connection with the grenade attack. — With Ramil Bajo, John Paul Jubelag and Cecille Suerte Felipe