Grenade blast two dead, nine injured

TRINIDAD, BOHOL, Philippines – Two were killed and nine others injured following the blast of a hand grenade thrown at the public market at 4:30 p.m. on Monday during the Foundation Day celebration of this town, about 98 kilometers from Tagbilaran City.

The grenade was allegedly thrown by the suspect identified as one Dinoberto Polestico Fuentes, 21, a resident of barangay San Vicente, of this town, about 98 kms. from capital Tagbilaran City.

Dead on the spot was Nestor Bernales, reportedly a bystander from Mabini town, and a vendor, 47-year-old Fidela Cajes from Bien-Unido town, died while being rushed to the Talibon Provincial Hospital, about eight kilometers from Trinidad.

Injured Trinidad residents were: Julieto Docaylo, 29, of Barangay Tagum Norte; Jorge Flores, 45, of Barangay Soom; Maria Autentico, 42, of Barangay La Victoria; Rosemarie Labajo and Juan Sumalinog, 66, both of Barangay Guinobatan; and Lorenzo Aparece, 66, Josephine Ytang, 20 and Jennifer Ytang, 33, all of Barangay Poblacion.

The ninth wounded victim was Lorna Capillares of Talibon town.

The suspected grenade thrower, identified as 21-year-old Dinoberto Polestico Fuentes of Barangay San Vicente of Trinidad, was caught by some people who saw him running from the scene, near the public comfort room building.

A witness, 32-year-old Lito Cuyno of this town, told The Freeman that he saw Fuentes lobbed the hand grenade to a crowded snack store near the "ukay-ukay" area in an open space of the market.

Senior Inspector Aldrin Villacampa, Trinidad Police chief, said in an interview that his office is preparing to file several charges against the suspect.  But a charge for illegal drugs shall be filed first against Fuentes after the police confiscated from the suspect a sachet of suspected shabu, he said.

Villacampa said one of the serious charges facing the suspect is the illegal possession of explosives, a non-bailable offense. Other charges being eyed by the police include multiple homicide, murder and serious physical injuries as a result of grenade blast, he said.

The suspect, who was interviewed by The Freeman, is now behind bars while the motive of grenade throwing was not yet fully established as investigators were still investigating the bloody incident, as of press time yesterday.