Security in Cotabato police stations tightened

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Authorities on Monday tightened security around police stations here following two grenade attacks believed meant to weaken the anti-narcotics campaign of the city government.

Investigators said a syndicate could be behind the detonation of a smoke grenade near the city’s main police precinct and the attempt to bomb another station at the Rosary Heights District here last week.

No one was hurt in the attacks, which probers said could be part of a ploy to spring from detention drug traffickers arrested in recent raids.

The incident was followed by an attempt to bomb another police precinct located in a busy district of the city on Monday.

A fragmentation grenade hurled on the roof of the station by an unidentified man did not explode.