3 fatally hurt in North Cotabato grenade attack

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Three were badly hurt in a grenade attack Tuesday in a secluded area in Pikit town southwest of North Cotabato province.

The injured villagers, Toks Dawadi, 50, his 23-year-old daughter, Bailani Dawadi-Usop and her 13-month-old child were immediately rushed by responding barangay officials and policemen to a hospital for medication.

The victims were inside their house in Barangay Inug-ug in Pikit when an unidentified man approached and tossed at them a fragmentation grenade through an open window.

The suspect hurriedly escaped towards a nearby rice field.

Chief Inspector Sindatu Karim of the municipal police said probers are still trying to establish the identity of the bomber and the motive for the attack.

Karim said Dawadi is a volunteer watchman helping guard power relay pylons in Pikit of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

His wounded daughter is a teacher in a local school.

"Let's give investigators enough time to identify the culprit," Karim said.

Karim said there is a possibility that an old grudge could have led to the bombing of Dawadi’s house.