Soldier killed in Cotabato blast

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A soldier was killed while another was wounded Thursday night in a powerful explosion that ripped through a roadside sentry post of the Army’s 5th Special Forces (SF) Battalion here.

Responding ordnance operatives said a shoulder-fire grenade was used in the attack, possibly fired from either a nearby 20-meter high flyover artery overlooking the spot, or from an intersection about 50 meters away.

The slain soldier, Private 1st Class Philip Palino, who sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, died while undergoing medication at a public hospital here.

Lt. Col. Ranulfo Sevilla, commanding officer of the 5th SF Battalion, said the wounded soldier, PFC Marvin Ona, has returned to their camp after having been treated of his blast wounds.

Sevilla said they are certain a 40 millimeter projectile fired from a launcher was used in the bombing.

Motorcycle-riding men had earlier set off an improvised explosive device near the spot where the grenade projectile explosive went off.

Thursday night’s bombardment of the 5th SF Battalion’s guard house beside its camp’s entrance gate was preceded by the grenade attack at the parking area of the Sugarpappi coffee shop along Sinsuat Avenue here.

A driver of a parked vehicle, who was waiting for his employer whiling away time inside the establishment, was wounded in the bombing, perpetrated by two men riding a motorcycle together.