EXPLOSIONS IN CENTRAL MINDANAO LEAVE TWO DEAD AND

UNCLAS MANILA 003369 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC PREL KISL MOPS RP SUBJECT: EXPLOSIONS IN CENTRAL MINDANAO LEAVE TWO DEAD AND AT LEAST FOUR WOUNDED REF: A. MANILA 3352 ¶B. MANILA 3344 ¶C. MANILA 2944 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) An explosion from a hand grenade occurred at approximately 1:55 p.m. local time at the main gate of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor's Office in Cotabato City, reportedly killing two people and wounding at least two. There were no Americans among the casualties. The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines 6th Infantry Division, and GRP Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities are on the scene investigating the explosion. ¶3. (SBU) At around 2:30 p.m. local time, two explosions occurred almost simultaneously in Kidapawan City of North Cotabato Province. There were no reported injuries from the first bombing near the AJ Hi-Time Hotel on Palridel Street. The second bombing in front of the Sugne-Superstore on Quezon Blvd left two injured. Both blasts were from the same type of improvised explosive device. There were no Americans among the injured. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Current indications are that the bombings in Cotabato and Kidapawan were unrelated. GRP contacts suspect that the bombing at the ARMM compound in Cotabato was connected to the ongoing feud between the Ampatuan Clan and elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). They attribute the two bombings in Kidapawan to the New People's Army. We anticipate that neither incident will have an impact on GRP-MILF peace negotiations. Jones