Rocket, grenade attacks in Maguindanao trigger panic

MANILA, Philippines — A gunman fired a rocket at a vehicle parked along a highway while another set off a fragmentation grenade in separate attacks late Friday in Maguindanao's Datu Saudi and Datu Odin Sinsuat towns.

No one was reported hurt in the explosions, but the incidents triggered panic among villagers residing near the spots were the explosives went off.

Policemen in Datu Odin Sinsuat are still investigating on who could have shot a vehicle  with a shoulder-fire explosive while it was parked near the campus of the Mindanao State University in the center of the municipality.

Residents of Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi also panicked when a powerful explosion rocked the area about two hours after the rocket attack in Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Barangay Kitango is near enclaves of the brigand Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The scene of the explosion is less than a kilometer away from an Army detachment in west of Barangay Kitango.