MANILA, Philippines — The perpetrators over the rash of bombings in Cotabato City Sunday night is still unknown according to the military although the place is known for Islamic State-linked violence.

Reports have it that the spate of bombings in various parts of the province wounded at least 17 people including soldiers, a military official said.

At one incident, a hand grenade was accordingly thrown into a military truck patrolling Cotabato City in the restive southern island of Mindanao, with 8 soldiers and 4 civilians sustaining injuries from the bomb’s shrapnel.

This was followed by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the nearby town of Libungan, wounding five civilians with one in “serious” condition, regional military spokesperson Major Arvin Encinas said.

A third explosion was recorded in the neighboring town in Maguindanao, although police are still gathering information on whether there are casualties.

Encinas said perpetrators on the series of bombing incidents groups have yet to come forward and lay claim responsibility for the attacks that could put aside the Duterte administration’s plan to lift Martial rule.

“We do not discount the possibility that Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Daesh-inspired groups are behind this,” Encinas said referring to the Islamic State-linked militants. (IAMIGO/CNS)