News flash! 3 DEAD, 4 WOUNDED AS GRENADE EXPLODES INSIDE PIKIT UCCP CHURCH

By Jaime Sinapit

MANILA, Philippines – Three people were killed while four others were hurt after a grenade launcher fired by two motorcycle-riding men exploded inside a church while service was ongoing Wednesday night in Pikit, North Cotabato.

Major Dante Gania, public affairs chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told Interaksyon.com in a phone interview that the attack happened inside the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Barangay Poblacion at about 8 p.m.

“Kasulukuyan daw ‘yong church service nang may humintong dalawang kalalakihan sakay ng motorsiklo sa harapan ng main door ng simbahan at isa sa kanila ang may hawak ng M203 tube at pinutok sa loob ng simbahan. Sumabog at tatlo daw ‘yong patay at apat pa ang sugatan,” Gania said.

[There was an on-going service when two men on a motorcycle stopped at the main door of the church and one of them fired an M203 tube inside the structure. The grenade exploded killing three and hurting four others.]

Authorities investigating the incident have cordoned off the area, according to Gania.