13 May

At least three explosions rocked city of Cotabato and neighboring Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines a few hours before a national midterm election, military and police authorities said on Monday.

Lieutenant Teofisto Ferrer of the Cotabato City police said the first explosion occurred around 10:15 p.m. local time Sunday night just outside the Cotabato City hall compound.

Ferrer said the explosion was caused by a mortar fired by a still unknown suspect using a grenade launcher.

The second explosion happened around 1 a.m. local time on Monday when a fragmentation grenade exploded through a municipal hall in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province.

Several hours later, an explosion, caused by a still undetermined type of explosive, was recorded also in Datu Odin Sinsuat town of Maguindanao around 7:20 a.m. local time, according to Noel Detoyato, Public Affairs chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

No one was killed or injured in all the incidents until now. 

XINHUA