Datu Odin Sinsuat blast meant to sow fear on Election Day —police

The early morning explosion that rocked Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province on Monday could be aimed at sowing fear among the local populace on Election Day, according to Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde.

"Ito yung nakikita natin na nangyari dito, not necesarrily pantakot but to show their presence. Sa vacant lot pinasabog 'to so walang intensyon ito para makasakit ng tao," Albalayde told reporters at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Albayalde said no injuries were reported in the incident and classified the blast as a roadside bombing.

He added he has yet to receive the report of the regional police director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on the incident.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion, Albayalde said.

Earlier in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Police Colonel Ronald Briones, Maguindanao Provincial Police director, said the grenade-throwing incident happened on an "uninhabited" area near the national highway.

"Ngayon nag-iimbestiga pa ang ating kapulisan pero siguro ito ay gusto lang yung tinatawag nating na pang-ano sa mga tao, pananakot po," Briones said.

No one was hurt in the blast, which occurred around 1 a.m.

Despite the explosion, Briones said people still trooped to their precincts to vote when the voting centers opened.

"Malaki naman po ang turnout po, marami na ang nandun na sa mga presinto. Naglilibot po tayo, may mga botante na po sa mga presintong ating napuntahan po," he said.

Briones said the polling precincts opened on time at 6 a.m.

The grenade-throwing incident was captured on CCTV located outside the compound of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Hall. The video shows two suspects on board a motorcycle leaving the area. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News