3 die in Cotabato blast, shooting

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A soldier was killed in an explosion that ripped through a military outpost here Thursday night.

Private 1st Class Philip Palino died while being treated in a hospital here, said Lt. Col. Ranulfo Sevilla, commanding officer of the 5th Special Forces (SF)  Battalion.

 Pfc. Marvin Ona, who suffered minor injures, has returned to their camp.

Sevilla said a 40-millimeter projectile fired from a launcher was used in bombing the outpost of the 5th SF Regiment Special Operations Command in Rosary Heights 2.

 Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said fragments of the projectile from an M203 grenade launcher were recovered from the scene.

 In South Cotabato, two members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit  were allegedly shot dead by their colleague Thursday night.

Anthony Macul and Franklin Deloria were watching television at their patrol base in Barangay Palo 9 in Tampakan town at 9:40 p.m. when Tonton Aradaza reportedly shot them with his M-14 rifle for still unknown reason.

The attack left another militiaman, Camilo Claro, wounded.

Aradaza fled after the shooting.

Police said criminal complaints would be filed against Aradaza on Monday.