2 hurt in Maundy Thursday explosion near church in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY -- Two persons were wounded following an explosion near Catholic church and a police outpost in this city on Thursday night.

Police Colonel Rommel Javier, city police director of Cotabato City confirmed that two bystanders were hurt in the incident that took place around 6:30 p.m. on Jose Lim.

The explosion site is near a police outpost and in front of an abandoned police precinct.

The San Roque chapel was also only 60 meters away from the blast.

The wounded were identified as Marguiana Kalim and Azmad Cader. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital in the city.

Residents of Mother Bagua area, among them parishioners of San Roque chapel, were startled when the explosion took place in the middle of Maundy Thursday mass.

The Catholic faithful calmly ended the mass after the explosion.

Local police are still investigating the motive of the attack at this posting time. --NB, GMA News