MAGUINDANAO – Army bomb disposal experts on Wednesday defused a hand grenade found outside the house of a UniTeam mayoralty candidate in Buluan, Maguindanao whose father was murdered 21 years ago.

The serviceable M-61 fragmentation grenade was discovered at the back gate of the residence of Buluan mayoralty candidate Jessieden Ali Martirez along Rose Street in Barangay Poblacion around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Members of the Tacurong City-based Army’s 33rd Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team led by Staff Sergeant Junar Salvedia were called in by the local police to retrieve the explosive, based on a report from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office (PRO ARMM).

The ARMM police report said that the Army EOD team found the grenade wrapped in a brown towel without a safety pin.

Prior to the discovery of the explosive, the Buluan Municipal Police Station received a text message from a concerned citizen informing them that a suspected bomb was found outside Martinez’s residence.

The policemen led by Lieutenant Cemafranco Cemacio rushed to the scene and sought the Army EODT’s assistance after they found the explosive.

An investigation is already underway to determine who left the grenade in the area.

Jessiden, a daughter of murdered Buluan Municipal Treasurer Sanday Ali is challenging the reelection bid of Babydats Mangudadatu, a nephew of Maguindanao 2nd District Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

Last February, a Cotabato City Court dismissed the double murder case filed against Babydats’ father Ebrahim and his uncle Freddie in connection with the killing of Ali who happened to be the grandfather of the two.

Ebrahim also used to be a mayor of Buluan who was succeeded by his son Babydats.

The double murder case filed in connection with the killing of Ali and his driver was dismissed because prosecutors filed it 21 years after the incident, Judge Annabelle Piang of the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 said.

The judge agreed with the lawyer of the two Mangudadatus that the prescription period for the filing of the case that took place on February 15, 2000 had already lapsed.

It turned out that the case was filed on September 8, 2021 only.