Balquinand Cotabato City Holy Week activities generally peaceful...but

COTABATO CITY -- Police authorities today said the Holy Week celebrations in the city was generally peaceful although there were crime incidents but were not related to the religious activities.Supt. Rolen Balquin, city police director, said no untoward incidents that disrupted the Holy Week services in major Catholic Churches in the city. Generally, the Holy Week services were peaceful and solemn, Balquin told DXMS Radyo Bida.However, he admitted 'isolated' crimes transpired during week-long activities and the discovery of a fragmentation grenade and improvised bomb along Sinsuat Avenue.Police foiled a bombing attempt on Maundy Thursday when it defused a MK-72 grenade found at the exit gate of Al-Nor Convention Center and the IED across the street, particularly at the concrete fence of Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.Balquin said the motive of the attempt was simply to sow fear.Three were victims of shooting incidents.Junior Bansil, 23, alias Bad Boyof Barangay Poblacion Mother,was shot and wounded by still unidentified on Thursday along SK Pendatun Avenue.

Police said he was standing near Gold Top Trading when a man approached and shot him three times.An unidentified man was shot dead at the corner of Soledad and San Pedro Street, Rosary Heights 13 on Saturday.Urby Ortega, habal-habal (pedicab) driver, was killed by still unidentified gunmen at 6 p.m. along San Vicente Extension, Barangay Rosary Heights Mother.Ortega, 33, a resident of Purok 4, Barnagay Rosary Heights 9, Cotabato City, was walking home when shot.