Three cops hurt in second roadside blast on Friday in Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY—Three policemen were wounded when a roadside bomb went off along the national highway in Barangay Marbel, this city, around 2 p.m., Friday, reports from the Kidapawan City PNP said.

The explosion was the second in Cotabato on Friday.    

Around 9 a.m., another roadside blast hurt two members of the Arakan PNP who were on board a patrol car.

Authorities said the second bomb wounded Police Officer Kenneth Enghon of Magpet municipal police station, and two others, including the driver.

The police hinted the same group was behind the latest blast.   Both were of the same make based from the fragments recovered from the site, reports said.

In a text message, a member of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) Guerilla Front 53 said their group was behind the two blasts in retaliation of the raid conducted on Thursday by elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salat, President Roxas, North Cotabato.

Around 6 a.m., Thursday, soldiers belonging to 39th IB raided a rebel encampment in Barangay Salat.

Joy Mirasol, chair of the Karapatan-North Cotabato, said the military offensives killed a civilian and wounded three others. —NB, GMA News