Leadership squabble eyed in N. Cotabato University blasts

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines ­– Investigators are certain the grenade explosions that simultaneously rocked the campus of the state-run University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan town Thursday night could be related to the assumption of its new president.

The bombers blasted the fragmentation grenades near the campus’ motor pool four hours after Francisco Gil Garcia assumed as president of the USM.

Garcia took over from lawyer Christopher Cabilen, who was installed as caretaker of the university last year following for its presidency by contenders.

Sources from the USM said there are groups grooming certain candidates for the school presidency.

Garcia reportedly won in the selection of aspirants for the USM presidency by the school’s board of regent, whose members include representatives from the Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education.

No one was killed or hurt in the incident, according to Superintendent Jordine Maribojo, chief of the Kabacan police.

The USM hogged the headlines in 2013 when its former president, Jesus Derije, refused to vacate his post despite calls by students and faculty members critical of his leadership.

Derije, who is facing graft cases at the Ombudsman, stepped down and relinquished his post to Cabilen through the intervention of North Cotabato Gov. Emmlylou Taliño-Mendoza.