2 explosions reported in Cotabato City on eve of BARMM polls

COTABATO CITY — Two separate explosions were reported in this city on Sunday night, a day before the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, with one person injured in the first incident and no casualties reported in the second, police said.

Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) said the first explosion occurred at about 8 p.m. in Purok Amirol of Barangay Kalanganan, where Zainodin Sapal Macabuat, a resident of Poblacion 1, was waiting for his construction foreman.

Police said Macabuat reported seeing a flash of white light before hearing an explosion that caused him to drop to the ground. He later discovered that he had sustained injuries.

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Police personnel led by Maj. Eduardo Malicdem, station commander, responded to the area at about 8:10 p.m. after receiving a report from a concerned citizen.

Police said the identity of the person behind the incident and the motive remained undetermined. The Cotabato City Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was conducting clearing operations at the scene.

Another explosion was reported at about 8:10 p.m. in Datu Udtog Matalam, Malagapas in Barangay Rosary Heights 10.

Police Station 2 said its personnel and duty investigators, led by Maj. Tugaya Alfonso, station commander, proceeded to the area after receiving a report from a concerned citizen.

Responding officers confirmed that an explosion had occurred and initially found scattered pieces of rubbish at the scene. The explosion was initially believed to have originated from a pile of garbage, police said.

No casualties were reported in the second incident.

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Police requested the Cotabato City Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical Unit to process the scene.

Authorities have yet to establish whether the two explosions were related or whether explosive devices were involved. /mcm