2 kids hurt in attack on Ampatuan mansion in Maguindanao town

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines -- Two grade school pupils were hurt by rockets fired at the mansion of the late Andal Ampatuan, Sr. in Shariff Aguak town before dawn Saturday.

 

Chief Inspector Reynato Mauricio, spokesman of the provincial police office, said the injured children were inside the house of Ampatuan’s younger brother, Datu Pandag, where one of the explosive projectiles landed and went off.

 

He said the explosives were launched from a distance using shoulder-fired launchers.

 

There have been more than a dozen rocket attacks in the vicinity of Shariff Aguak since May 8, the day before national and local elections.

 

Suspected partisans also shot several houses in isolated areas of the municipality, located in the second district of Maguindanao, with 40-mm rifle grenades on the eve of the elections.