Two charged for throwing grenade

CEBU, Philippines - Two men accused of throwing a grenade to a house in Barangay Punta Princesa last week were charged with frustrated murder before the Regional Trial Court yesterday.

Edwin Florida and Freddie Estoesta were charged after allegedly throwing a grenade to the house of Lolita Articulo, wounding Mamerto Cuyag, the house’s caretaker in the process.

Cuyag sustained injuries on his feet and buttocks when the grenade exploded outside the house at 6:45 p.m. on August 19.

The victim’s 24-year-old son, Micole said the house, where his parents were staying also got burned last May.

Two vendors, who saw two men carry out the grenade attack, immediately alerted barangay tanod Louie Villanueva and traffic enforcer Richielyn Vicson Sarriego, who were directing traffic on the busy intersection.

Abellar said Florida is a resident of Barangay Basak-Pardo and was implicated in a shooting incident in Barangay Duljo-Fatima. Abellar said information from Homicide Police indicated Florida was a suspected gun-for-hire.

Micole said text messages they retrieved from Florida’s phone indicated the two were paid to stage the attack.

A certain Freddie has sent messages to the cell phone of Florida, asking if the crime has been successfully carried out.

Estoesta was arrested after an entrapment operation by the Intelligence Bureau of the Cebu City Police Office. —Jasmin R. Uy/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)