TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — Two blasts rocked Lanao del Norte past 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the eve of a plebiscite that will decide on the inclusion of the province’s six towns in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The first explosion happened in Barangay Maranding, the business center of Lala town while the other occurred at the back of the municipal hall in Kauswagan town.

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Col. Alex Aduca, commander of the Joint Task Force Plebisito, said a small improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown by an unidentified person on board a hauler truck, locally called “kumong-kumong.”

The bomb in Kauswagan town exploded at 4:50 p.m. No casualty was reported.

Colonel Thomas Sedano, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade, said the explosive was placed under a dump truck parked at the back of the municipal hall.

“The area was already cordoned while the police Explosive Ordnance Division looked into the kind of explosive,” Sedano said.

The checkpoints have been intensified in the province after the explosion.

“Hindi lang plain view ang inspection na ginagawa natin. We will check every vehicle na dumadaan (We are not just conducting a plain view inspection. We will check every vehicle that will pass by),” Aduca said.

Major General Roseller Murillo, commander of 1st Infantry Division, assured the public that everything is under control. “We ask everyone not to panic. Instead, they should exercise their right to vote on the February 6 plebiscite.” /ee

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