By Edwin Fernandez

GRENADE ATTACK. A police investigator points to the white minivan owned by an Islamic teacher that was subjected to a grenade attack on Friday night (Sept. 18, 2026). The Islamic teacher escaped unharmed. (Photo from Maguindanao Sur PPO)

COTABATO CITY – Police in Maguindanao del Sur have launched a manhunt against a man who tried to kill an Islamic teacher using a hand grenade in the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan on Friday night.

Col. John Michael Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur Police director, said police are pursuing several leads to identify the suspect who lobbed a grenade on a parked minivan at a roadside carwash center in Barangay Kitangon, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town at about 10 p.m.

Hajim Halil, the Islamic teacher, a resident of Barangay Kitangon, was unharmed as he was not inside the car while it was being washed.

Halil was washing his minivan (KBI-2357) when the grenade attack occurred.

“He was unharmed but stunned by the incident,” Mangahis said, adding that the teacher claimed he has no known enemies.

His car was damaged by shrapnel. (PNA)