AFP investigating Basilan, North Cotabato blasts

From ABS-CBN (Jan 1): AFP investigating Basilan, North Cotabato blasts

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) says investigations into last night’s attacks in Basilan and North Cotabato are now underway.

AFP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala says the attacks were likely pre-planned. He adds that a number of troops have already been deployed in both areas to improve security.

Five people were wounded in a grenade blast in Carmen, North Cotabato hours before the New Year.

Meanwhile, six people were killed and 10 injured in a separate explosion in a residential area in Sumisip, Basilan.

Zagala says auxiliary threat groups may be behind both explosions.

“For both blasts, the probability is that there are auxiliary threat groups, those groups that dare to undermine the government, especially in Carmen, because we’re nearing the finality of the peace agreement with the MILF,” Zagala told ANC.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/01/14/afp-investigating-basilan-and-north-cotabato-blasts