Female teacher dies in N. Cotabato grenade blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 15, 2023): Female teacher dies in N. Cotabato grenade blast (By John Andrew Tabugoc)

BLAST VICTIM. The remains of teacher Marichu Valle Cabañog are being transported from the hospital to a funeral parlor following a pre-dawn grenade blast Thursday (June 15, 2023) inside their home in Pikit, North Cotabato. Investigation further indicated the victim has no known enemy. (Photo from MC Valle)

PIKIT, North Cotabato – A female public school teacher died in a grenade blast inside her home in Barangay Ginatilan here at 2 a.m. Thursday, according to Pikit Municipal police chief Lt. Col John Miredel Calinga.

Calinga identified the fatality as Marichu Valle Cabañog, 42, a teacher at Balong Elementary School in this town.

Based on the initial police report, the grenade exploded inside the victim's house and she sustained serious physical injuries in the lower part of her body causing her instantaneous death.

Certain crime scene evidence, however, continues to baffle investigators as the grenade’s safety lever was found inside the house, while its safety pin was seen outside the teacher’s bedroom window.

“We are still trying to determine if the grenade was thrown toward the house,” Calinga said, adding her neighbors saw no one fleeing from the scene after the explosion.

He added that the investigation further indicated the victim has no known enemy.

“Investigation is underway to determine the motive, if any," Calinga said, adding that police investigators are still awaiting word from the victim’s family.

On May 31, unidentified motorcycle riding in tandem gunmen waylaid a head teacher Joel Reformado, 36, and co-teacher Elton John Lapinid, 37, in the Poblacion area.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203583