Blast hits Pikit Shell gas station, hurts gasoline boy

PIKIT, North Cotabato -- A gas station pump boy was slightly
injured when a grenade exploded in the vicinity of Shell Gas Station here
Thursday morning.

The blast occurred at 11 a.m. while the gas station was filled
with motorists, mostly motorcycles.

Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police provincial
director, in his report to Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, Police Regional Office 12
director, said the blast slightly injured Jay Salac, 34, a resident of Barangay
Poblacion, Pikit.
Supt. Romeo Galgo, speaking for PRO-12, said the victim who
sustained injuries on his elbow was rushed to Cadulong emergency hospital.
Galgo said post blast investigation conducted by Pikit bomb
experts showed the explosive used by still unidentified men was a fragmentation
grenade based on pieces of evidence recovered at the blast site.
A safety lever was found in the perimeter of the gas
station, Galgo said, adding that investigation was still going on. The grenade went off about five meters from the gas pumps but
did not trigger fire, police said.

It was not clear if the grenade was lobbed from outside the gas
station or it was rolled down by anyone within the perimeter.
Police are reviewing the gas station's CCTV footage that
captured the surroundings preceding the blast.

No one has claimed responsibility in the attack.

Last week, the village hall of Barangay Poblacion was also
subjected to grenade attack by still unidentified motorcycle riding men. Luckily, the explosive failed to go off.

Earlier, Mayor Sumulong Sultan has asked the Phillippine
National Police for augmentation force as crimes are on the rise in town due to
intensified police operations against illegal drugs.
Police could not say if the grenade attack at the gas station
was part of extortion activities of lawless elements.

Shell gas station is a stone's throw away from the Community
Police Action Center (COMPACT) detachment. (Edwin O. Fernandez)