Teen dies, 2 others injured from pilfered ordnance blast
ZAMBOANGA CITY — A teenage boy was killed, while his two friends were injured after an explosive device which they pilfered and smashed against a seawall exploded on Monday.
Col. Rexmel Reyes, director of the Zamboanga City Police Office, identified the fatality as Ericson John Mantuhan Balokos, 13, while his friends Giovan Kadungog and Joshua Tubo, aged 14 and 12, respectively, were wounded, one of them still critical.
The two other companions of the three boys were unharmed.
Investigation showed that the five boys, all residents of Barangay Santa Catalina, were supposed to go swimming at Aplaya de Rio Hondo, but curiosity led them to explore the nearby grounds of a naval station of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Barangay Rio Hondo.
They gained entry into the military facility through the seawall, getting past into the watchtower where Giovan picked an item placed among a pile of used tires, Reyes said, citing the account of Tubo.
When Giovan got out, he threw the item against the seawall, resulting in a blast that killed Balokos instantly.
Reyes said they were alerted by the explosion at around 2:53 p.m. on Monday.
He added that bomb experts were trying to determine what particular ordnance went off.
