1 killed, 34 wounded in 2 grenade blasts in Philippines

One person was killed and at least 34 others were wounded in two separate grenade blasts in the southern Philippines late Saturday, police and military officials said Sunday. About 32 people were injured as an unidentified assailant lobbed a grenade near a village gymnasium in Fatima village, Paquibato district, Davao City, Southern Mindanao police spokesperson Marcial Magistrado said. The incident happened as villagers were watching a circus performance during a village festivity, according to commander of the army’s 10th civil-military operations battalion Jacob Obligado. Authorities suspected that leftist rebels could be behind the attack, according to (Philippine Star) website. “Village officials said the unidentified suspect hurled the grenade at a temporary Army detachment in the community but the explosive bounced off the outpost’s barricade and hit the gymnasium instead and went off,” Magistrado told Xinhua in a text message. The police official said the second explosion happened in Bongbong village, Sto. Tomas town in nearby Davao del Norte province. Local resident died instantly when a grenade he was carrying accidentally fell to the ground and went off. Two others, including a 14-year old boy, were also wounded and rushed to a local hospital.