The Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division (6ID) clarified that one of the victims of an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) during a volleyball game in Datu Piang, Maguindanao over the weekend has not died contrary to what it initially reported.
Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, 6ID spokesperson, said Norodin Musa, 21, remained fighting for his life and was in critical condition as of Sunday night, Sept. 19.
Baldomar earlier reported that Musa has died when an IED was detonated while he and his friends were watching a volleyball game at a court in Barangay Poblacion last Saturday.
"Per verification, and reported na killed ay buhay pa daw though still in critical condition (the reported killed is still alive although still in critical condition," Baldomar told reporters.
Aside from Musa, seven others were also hurt in the incident -- one was also critical while two have already been released from the hospital.
Three angles were being eyed by the military as to the possible motive behind the incident: first, a possible divertionary tactic from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) or Daulah Islamiyah (DI); second, a possible gender-related attack since most of the victims were members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trasngender, queer) community and they claimed receiving death threats for their sexual preference; and third, a possible political demolition job due to the forthcoming 2022 elections.