Grenade blast rocks Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – A grenade explosion rocked a residential area here just as devotees congregated for the traditional Lenten prayer rites in a nearby cathedral at around 8 p.m. on Good Friday.

No one was hurt in the grenade attack, but the incident triggered panic in the neighborhood.

Investigators said one of two motorcycle-riding men hurled a fragmentation grenade at the yard of businessman Juanito Lao.

Lao’s residence is near the detachment of the Marines’ 7th Infantry Battalion.   

Members of the Lao family said they have no known enemies and are not involved in any clan war.