Illegal drugs eyed in Butuan bomb blasts

BUTUAN CITY – The unabated proliferation of illegal drugs that resulted in intense rivalries among drug lords are now being eyed in the two grenade blasts that hurt 14 persons here on Friday evening with five in serious condition, confined at the local hospital here.

Earlier, concerned citizens living near the crime scene where the alleged rampant trafficking of illegal drugs such as shabu, ecstasy is happening right on their faces are calling authorities to stop the illicit activities.

They claimed, they fear for their lives as some traffickers are already using firearms most of them high powered while some are carrying hand grenades.

Last night at about 6:30 p.m., two consecutive grenade blasts stunned the heavily populated Purok 2, Barangay Ong Yiu, Butuan City wounding on the spot 14 persons.

Initial police investigation showed that two male suspects on board a black motorcycle threw hand grenades in the populated area which resulted to the wounding of 14 persons.

Police identified the injured 14 as Benolawan Poon Langko, 44; Mayla Poon Langko 18; Arsad Ismael Mamuklo, 12; Khalid Bonsa Pandiin, 15; and five-year-old Daniel Batcharo Salonoy. All of them were Maranaws and now residing in the said area. They were brought to the M.J. Santos Hospital here due to the seriousness of their wounds.

Other victims – Myrna Bernaldez Rein, 40; Ailyn Espania Supetran, 18; Reymark San Pablo y Abada, 16; Haula Alexander y Saranggani, 16; and Fernando Besande y Batcharo, 10; were brought to Butuan City Medical Center in Barangay Tiniwisan this City.

Victims Ricando Tanio y Perez, 56; Eduardo Joshue y Naduma, 53; and Robin Makisa y Piaso, 36; were brought to the Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City.

Police said the 14th victim (Celestina Llorado y Tanio) was immediately discharged from hospital for sustaining only minor injuries.

Police said they are eyeing revenge as the motive behind the grenade throwing incident claiming some personalities were allegedly involved in the shooting incident that occurred in same area last week wounded at least three persons.

The shooting incident was allegedly triggered by double cross of an alleged illegal drug transactions involving some scalawag cops and big-time drug pushers.

Earlier, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Caraga Regional Office claimed the present price of P14,000 per gram of shabu in Caraga Region have somehow brought intense rivalries among suppliers and pushers.

But critics claimed the authorities are only arresting small fish in the illegal drugs trade while the big fish who posed as legitimate traders were left scot-free and continue on their illicit drug trade.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago Jr. was here in Butuan City recently to lead the burning of confiscated illegal drugs in the presence of judges, private and public prosecutors including members of the civil society.

Santiago challenged members of the five pillars of the country’s justice system to get rid of some of their scalawag members as it hinders and undermines the government’s anti-illegal drugs drive. – Ben Serrano