2 brothers hurt in grenade blast in North Cotabato town

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8): 2 brothers hurt in grenade blast in North Cotabato town

Two minor brothers were wounded when a projectile from an M79 grenade launcher exploded in front of them along the highway in Barangay Marbel in Matalam, North Cotabato, around 10:30 a.m., Tuesday.

Matalam Police identified the victims as Apsan Salipada, 17, and his brother Baraguir, 14, both residents of Barangay Marbel.  The victims’ mother, Saguira, told authorities that her sons were on their way home after staying for two days at an evacuation center in a nearby barangay, when they saw the projectile and played with it.  She said her sons later decided to toss the grenade and left. It, however, exploded, hitting the brothers, Saguira said.  Both victims have sustained shrapnel wounds in their stomachs and were sent to the Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center in Kidapawan City for treatment.  The police hinted the grenade was left by one of the Moro rebels that traded fire with another rebel group, three days ago.  Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, elements of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) exchanged fires with members of the 108th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at Sitio Liton, Barangay Marbel, Matalam.  The next morning, one of the MILF rebels died after he was hit by bullets fired at by MNLF fighters under the command of MNLF Commander Datu Dima Ambil of the Sebangan Kutawato State Revolutionary Committee.  The warring groups had ceased firing after members of the Local Monitoring Team of the Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities from the MILF intervened. A dialogue was held to resolve the conflict, according to reports from the Matalam police.  After the dialogue, the 200 families that evacuated to two evacuation centers in nearby villages decided to return home.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=523531