Grenade lobbed at trader's house in NCotabato town

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Two men riding a motorcycle together blasted Monday a fragmentation grenade at the frontyard of a businessman in Mlang town in the province.

Inspector Rolando Dillera, police chief of Mlang, said investigators are still trying to determine if the grenade attack at the residential compound of Joselito Mercado was related to the barangay elections in the municipality.

Mercado lost his bid  for the mayoral post of Mlang during the May 13 local polls.

Dillera said the bombers casually pulled over the street where the residence of Mercado is located, tossed grenades over the fence and hurriedly escaped using their motorcycle.

No one was killed or injured in the attack, but the explosion triggered panic in the area.

“It took some time for the police and military to convince voters that it was safe for them to go out and proceed to the polling sites,” Dillera said.