Six injured in campus grenade blast

COTABATO CITY — Six people, including five students, were wounded when a grenade exploded inside the campus of the state-run University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, North Cotabato Thursday night.

Senior Inspector Abello Junggaya, Kabacan police chief, said the blast occurred at the school’s amphitheater where the victims were watching participants in the "Battle of the Bands" competition, which was part of the university’s week-long celebration of the annual Pasiklaban, which started the other day.

The injured students were identified as Alfonso Balagot, 29; Allan Roy Manzano, 21; Rodman Alemania, 21; and Jonalyn de los Santos, 18, all members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity; Stanley Maraña, and barangay official Amina Mantawil.

Junggaya said a still unidentified man casually approached the victims, hurled the grenade and immediately fled.

"Investigators are looking into different angles in the bombing, one of which is the possibility that members of a rival fraternity could be involved," he said.

Col. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, said probers were still trying to determine the motive behind the attack.

Chief Superintendent German Doria, Central Mindanao police director, said more policemen were assigned to assist in the investigation.

Before the grenade blast, police said another M-72 grenade was found inside the campus. — John Unson and Ramil Bajo