Grenade lobbed at Bukidnon radio station; 1 hurt

KIDAPAWAN City - Two men on board a motorcycle blasted a fragmentation grenade at a hard-hitting radio station in Maramag, Bukidnon province on Wednesday morning, leaving one person injured.

The injured Celso Caniamo, who works as intern messenger and janitor of dxGT Radyo Abante 92.1 FM station, located near Maramag’s public market, was rushed by responding policemen and civilian volunteers to a local hospital.

A member of dxGT’s news crew, Cocoy Medina, said one of the two men tossed the grenade into their station, owned by Gordon Torres, an incumbent member of the provincial board of Bukidnon. The incident happened at around 8 a.m.

Station dxGT has programs hosted by commentators critical of corrupt politicians, environmental issues and logging operations in the hinterlands surrounding Bukidnon.

One of the station’s popular commentators is Joan Dignos, who has been critical of drug trafficking and other syndicated crimes in the province.

The bombers pulled off the attack while dxGT was airing a taped commentary of Dignos on domestic peace and security issues.

Senior Superintendent Orlando Biñas, Bukidnon’s provincial police director, said investigators have yet to determine the identities of the bombers as well as the motive for the attack.