Grenade explodes near house of Estrada ally

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A grenade exploded Tuesday night in front of the house of a former adviser of ousted President Joseph Estrada, some four kilometers from Edwin Andrews Air Base.

No one was reported hurt.

Chief Inspector Jose Bayani Gucela, intelligence chief of the Zamboanga City police, said the explosion shattered window panes and damaged the gates of the residence of Lepeng Wee.

Quoting witnesses, Gucela said two unidentified men on a red motorcycle tried to hurl the grenade inside Lepeng’s residence, but the high iron gate and concrete fence foiled their mission.

"We still do not know the motive for the attack, but there is an ongoing manhunt," he said. "The police are still investigating this incident."

The attack caused panic among neighbors of Lepeng, he added. –Roel Pareño, AFP