Blasts rock Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur on Election Day

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COTABATO CITY – Two unidentified men left a suspected improvised bomb that detonated at about 1:30 p.m. on Election Day along the national highway in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur, police said.

“Nobody was hurt but it sent fears among voters queuing in the nearby voting center,” Police Major Zukarnain Kunakon, Datu Anggal Midtimbang police chief, said.

The improvised bomb was left a few meters from the Army detachment in Barangay Midtimbang.

“It could be a form of harassment or simply to sow fear among voters,” Kunakon told reporters.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said an explosion also rocked the town of Calanogas, Lanao del Sur on Monday.

Colonel Robert Daculan, Lanao del Sur police director, said nobody was hurt and no facilities were damaged by the explosion that happened at 9 a.m. in Sitio Baklayan, Barangay Panggawalupa, Calanogas.

A series of gun bursts followed the explosion, believed to be from a rifle grenade from an unknown location.

“Investigation is going on, we are still uncertain of the motive but this is just to sow fear among residents,” Daculan said.