Dawlah Islamiyah, BIFF possibly behind Cotabato, Maguindanao blasts —Westmincom

Two terror groups in Mindanao are being eyed as possible perpetrators of the series of explosion incidents in Cotabato and Maguindanao, according to the Westerm Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A report by GMA News stringer Ferdinandh Cabrera on GMA News' Unang Balita on Monday cited the military as saying that the Dawlah Islamiyah and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters may have launched the attacks, considering their capacity and interest to do so.

Based on the initial investigation of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, the attackers who threw a grenade at military personnel in Cotabato City were riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle

The grenade blast occurred early evening on Sunday as soldiers were getting off an army truck to provide security assistance at a Catholic mass being held in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Cathedral.

Gunshots followed. Nine civilians and 11 soldiers were also injured.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team members inspect the site of a grenade blast on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 on Sinsuat Avenue and PC Hill in Cotabato City. Eight Philippine Army soldiers and four civilians were injured after a grenade was thrown at around 6 p.m. at a military vehicle that was part of the advance party for the upcoming visit of President Rodrigo Duterte. Ferdinandh Cabrera

Not long after, another explosion was reported in Pedro Colina Hill in Barangay Rosary Heights 1. A person was injured and the suspects were supposedly also riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle.

Past 6 p.m., an explosive also went off in Libungan, North Cotabato, injuring six people.

Another blast happened along Sitio Tekwa National Highway in North Upi town of Maguindanao.

The lockdown that was implemented in Cotabato has already been lifted after the clearing operation at the explosion site.

The string of attacks happened ahead of Duterte's visit to Cotabato City on Monday. —Dona Magsino/KG, GMA News