Grenade explosion in Cebu kills eatery owner

CEBU, Philippines - A 60-year-old man was killed while his wife and a grandson were injured after three men threw a grenade into their eatery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City yesterday afternoon.

Eduardo “Ladie” Natividad was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu City Medical Center while his wife Rosita and his eight-year-old grandson Mark Vince Diola suffered wounds in different parts of their bodies.

According to Salome Diola, daughter of the victim, she was in the room when she heard her father shouting “mobuto, mobuto ni” while holding the grenade.

The explosion cut off Natividad’s hands and injured his body. Rosita was wounded in her arms while Mark Vince sustained wounds to his feet.

Relatives and neighbors immediately brought Natividad and Mark Vince to Cebu City Medical Center and Rosita to Velez District hospital.

Before the incident, neighbors reportedly noticed three men roaming in the area.

The three suspects escaped in different directions. One of them took a mini-bus going for Carmen.

Two of the suspects were later arrested in Mandaue City. They were identified as Alvin Cabang, 24, and Eldie Mahinay, 40, the one who threw the grenade. Both are residents of Liloan town.

Mahinay identified the mastermind as a certain “Eking,” who paid him P10,000. Cabang claimed he was only included by Mahinay in the crime.

The police are now conducting operation against the mastermind. — (FREEMAN)