3 hurt as bomb explodes in S.Philippines

Three civilians were wounded in a grenade explosion in Iligan City public plaza in Lanao del Norte Province, the Philippines Wednesday night.

Lt. Col. Benedicto Manquiquis, public affairs officer of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, said the grenade was thrown by two suspects around 7:00 p.m. local time.

Manquiquis said the grenade was thrown by an unidentified suspect - wearing black shirt, bonnet and white shoes - who was aboard a motorcycle.

He said the victims were brought to the local hospital for medical attention.

Maj. Filemon Tan, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)'s Western Mindanao Command, said the explosion occurred in front of a Western Union money transfer branch, wounding two female and a male.

Tan said they still have no suspect or suspects in the explosion.

Tan said an Explosive and Ordnance team was dispatched to the scene to conduct investigation.

The Maute Group is known to operate in the nearby province of Lanao del Sur. The military has intensified its operations against the group after its members occupied the old and abandoned town hall of Butig, Lanao del Sur on Nov. 26.

Government forces dislodged the group four days later, leaving 63 Maute Group members and two soldiers dead. Endit