Blasts rock Maguindanao hours before May 9 polls; 9 hurt

Explosions rocked Maguindanao province in southern Philippines on Sunday night, the eve of the May 9 national and local elections.

According to a Balitanghali report on Monday, nine people, including four minors, were hurt in Datu Unsay town.

Five shells of M203 grenade launcher were found in the area, which was near the municipal hall.

At a press conference, Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PROBAR) public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Cristio Lagyop Jr. said the victims were brought to the hospitals and later discharged.

“Yung nine po na katao at the same time pero noong gabi rin po agad din po itong nilabas doon sa hospital po [Nine people were hospitalized but later in the evening they were discharged],” he said.

According to Lagyop, the police are now conducting an investigation to identify the perpetrators behind the blasts.

Meanwhile, two grenade explosions were reported in Shariff Aguak town near a public terminal. No one was reported hurt. 

16 poll-related incidents

Sixteen incidents of election-related violence have been reported as of midnight of Monday, Election Day, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

At a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the 16 were part of the 71 "incidents" recorded so far.

“As of 12:00 a.m. of May 9, we already recorded 71 na incidents. Out of the 71 recorded incidents, 41 are considered non election-related incidents, 14 are suspected election-related incidents,” she said.

“The remaining 16 are already validated election-related incidents,” she added.

Earlier, the PNP said no serious threats have been detected in connection with the May 9 national and local elections.

“So far, wala tayong serious threat (we haven’t monitored any serious threat)," PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. had said.

“But we cannot be complacent sa ating monitoring lalong na sa aspeto security preparations natin (in our monitoring, especially in the aspect of security preparations),” he added.

As of May 4, the PNP said at least 24 towns and four cities have been placed under the Commission on Elections’ control due to election-related security concerns. —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News