IED blast hits MisOcc gov’s vehicle

The Philippine National Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao on Monday said it has heightened its security measures in Misamis Occidental after an explosion incident in Clarin town hit the provincial governor's convoy late Sunday night, causing damages to the lead vehicle.

PRO-10 acting director PGen. Ricardo Layug Jr. disclosed that police units have been conducted to conduct checkpoints and dragnet operations in the province to determine and apprehend possible perpetrators of the blasting incident.

"We view this incident with the utmost seriousness and are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion," Layug said.

Authorities in Clarin Municipal Police Station initially reported that an explosion of an alleged improvised explosive device occurred near the House of Suman restaurant in Poblacion II in Clarin town around 11:10 p.m.

The IED blast hit the lead convoy of Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal while traversing the highway in the area. Authorities reported that Oaminal and two of his security personnel were unharmed amid the incident.

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, previously investigated the spate of political killings in the country.

In a virtual media interview on Monday, Dela Rosa said he is still assessing the report of the PNP about the blast incident should it have a political motive, before deciding to reopen the probe on continuing violence across the country.

"We have to assess first, we need to know the motive of the incident. I'll look into the report of the PNP first. If there's a need to conduct an investigation, then, we will do that," Dela Rosa said.

Last August, Dela Rosa filed Senate Resolution 698, which prompted the investigation of the alleged inhumane and violent treatment by several police officers and unknown individuals against suspended Bonifacio town Mayor Samson Dumanjug.

The two-day inquiry resulted in recommendations from the committee to revisit the PNP protocol and procedures for making arrests; urging the Department of the Interior and Local Government to be more proactive in its general supervision of local government units and come up with guidelines in proper and peaceful implementation of orders and decisions of their local councils.