By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
A 37-year-old man was killed while three persons were wounded when a grenade planted under the motorcycle of a policeman broke loose and exploded in Mandaluyong City Sunday morning.
(FLICKR / MANILA BULLETIN)
P/Colonel Remigio Sedanto, city police chief, identified the fatality as Roger Barcelo of Barangay Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City.
Rogelio Tolentino, 32; Merlina Bag-o, 52; and Edwin Rodas, 34, were rushed to Mandaluyong City Medical Center after sustaining wounds caused by the explosion.
Initial investigation showed that Police Staff Sargeant Aldin Saligo was travelling along Martinez Street in Barangay Addition Hills when a hand grenade tied under his motorcycle fell and exploded after he drove over a road hump at around 6:30 a.m.
Saligo was unhurt after he was quickly able to move away from the grenade that exploded just moments later.
However, grenade fragments hit the victims, including Barcelo who was on board a tricycle which was following behind the motorcycle of the police officer.
The other victims, the city police chief said, were on board a motorcycle or were walking along the sidewalk.
They were rushed to the nearest hospital but Barcelo was declared dead on-arrival by the attending physician.
Saligo is assigned with the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of Mandaluyong City Police. He was on his way to the city police headquarters when the explosion occurred.
According to Sedanto, the attempt on the life of Saligo may have been due to his line of work in the anti-illegal drug operations of the city police.
“He (Saligo) has also received death threats before this incident had happened,” Sedanto added.