PLARIDEL, Quezon ,Philippines – A 15-year-old boy was killed while two of his companions were wounded in a bomb explosion in Barangay Paaralan here Wednesday afternoon.
Police Officer 2 Leo Samson Quintana identified the fatality as Nico Alvarez and the wounded as Arjay Cabañas, 15, and Manolo Caridad, 50.
Investigation showed that Alvarez, unaware that it was a bomb that he found, smashed it against the edge of a concrete wall. The bomb exploded as Cabañas and Caridad approached him.
The three victims were rushed to Gumaca District Hospital for medical treatment but Alvarez was declared dead on arrival. Cabañas and Caridad were transferred to the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City for further medical treatment.
Investigators said New People’s Army rebels could have left behind the explosive during a recent encounter in the area.