Capiz grenade blast suspect identified

CEBU, Philippines – Police have already identified the suspect behind the grenade explosion at Pontevedra town in Capiz Monday that killed a 7-year-old girl and the suspect himself, while wounding 15 others.

Senior Superintendent Ulysses Caton, Capiz Provincial Police chief, identified the suspect as Jorjan Develos, 37, of Barangay Tuburan in Maayon town of Capiz.

Caton said Develos’ sister was the one who identified the body of the suspect, who worked as a bucther at his sibling’s meat stall.

It was not yet known why Develos was keeping an explosive in his possession, but based on police reports, he was suspected to be into drug use and peddling.

Caton also clarified that the explosion was caused by a fragmentation grenade and not an improvised explosive devise, as earlier reported.

Develos’ body was blown into pieces because of the incident  which also claimed the life of 7-year-old Czarina Rose de Mayo, a Grade 1 pupil of the nearby Lantangan Elementary School.

Caton said the incident could be a case of accidental explosion. According to a driver-witness, the slain suspect boarded his tricycle from President Roxas town and alighted in Lantangan village.

Another witness claimed that Develos even washed his feet first at a water pump near the school then casually left. He was walking near a group of children playing outside the school when the explosion occurred.

Five of the injured were brought to the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital while the other 10 were treated at the Bailan District Hospital.