GENERAL SANTOS CITY – In his effort to thwart future incidence of violence in Sarangani, world boxing sensation Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is bent on holding political dialogues in the province.

“As the Ambassador for Peace, Unity and Goodwill,” Pacquiao said, “I am obliged to spearhead political dialogs in Sarangani to end the violence in the province.”

Earlier, at least two MK2 type hand grenades exploded almost simultaneously at the site where the Kestebeng Festival, highlighting the 37th foundation day of Maasim town in Sarangani, is being held.

The tragic incident left at least one reveler dead while 32 others were wounded and are still in various hospitals in Sarangani and in this city.

As this developed, Pacquiao called on those responsible for the twin grenade explosions to stop sowing terror in Sarangani.

The boxing icon was apparently referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and communist rebels operating in the area, whose forces are locked in an armed struggle for their ideological goals.

Colonel Rainier Cruz III, the Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade (IB) chief, said investigators are also looking into the alleged vendetta angle as motive behind the grenade attacks in Maasim, following the capture of Commander Aguilar Saligan, 107th Base Command head of the rogue MILF rebels, hours before the twin blasts.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao immediately went to the various hospitals where the survivors of the explosions were confined and gave them financial assistance of P3,000 each.

However, Pacquiao immediately denied that the assistance he gave out is not a “political gimmick” to bolster his alleged bid to run as candidate for the lone district of Sarangani Province but for victims to purchase the necessary medicines. “I am saddened by people getting dead and some wounded in that terror attacks in Maasim, Sarangani. The little amount that I gave is for the immediate need for medicines of the victims and not for politicking,” Pacman told reporters at St. Elizabeth Hospital.