Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered the local police to conduct a thorough investigation into the explosion in Maguindanao that allegedly targeted members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community.
"I have already directed our police forces in the area to coordinate with their military counterparts in the conduct of manhunt in order to hold responsible fr this attack," said Eleazar.
He said the local police is also instructed to coordinate with the military in identifying and arresting the perpetrators of the attack.
Reports reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City indicated that the blast transpired in a covered court in Datu Piang town center on Saturday afternoon. It injured at least eight people as a volleyball game was taking place when the incident happened.
Authorities are still validating if the suspects had used a phone-triggered improvised explosive device in the attack.
Eleazar also called on residents in the area to immediately report to authorities if they noticed any actions that could pose threats in the community, noting that information from citizens have been helpful for the police in preventing atrocities.