Dud grenade thrown at Ampatuan kin's house

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - A still unidentified man tried to set off a fragmentation grenade at the residential yard of a former member of the provincial board in Sharif Aguak town Tuesday night, police said.

The blasting contraption of the grenade, which the suspect hurled on the roof of the house of Yasser Ampatuan, malfunctioned preventing what could have been a powerful explosion.

Ampatuan, who had served as member of the provincial board for three consecutive terms, is a close relative of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

Chief Inspector Jonathan De Gracia, Shariff Aguak’s police chief, said responding Army bomb disposal operatives had promptly defused the dud grenade.

Witnesses reported seeing a man casually approaching one side of Ampatuan’s house, tossing a grenade on its roof and running away.

De Gracia said investigators are still trying to establish the identity of the suspect and his motive for the bungled grenade attack.