1 killed, 3 hurt as IED explodes in heated argument

MANILA, Philippines — A man was killed and three others wounded when a fellow identified only as “Bulldog” detonated an improvised explosive device at the height of an argument in front of a sari-sari store in Malabon City before midnight Monday, police said.

Police said Rodrigo Mejica, 35, died while being treated at a hospital hours later due to several shrapnel wounds in the body.

A relative of his identified as Catherine de los Santos, 27, was reported in critical condition at the Manila Central University Hospital while the others, Rick Sonza, 22, a seaman, and Rowena Legaspi, 16, sustained minor injuries.

The explosion, which occurred at 11:20 p.m., created a small crater in front of the store on Governor Pascual Avenue in Barangay (village) Catmon and left metal fragments and a bottle cap, which led investigators to believe that what exploded was an IED, Police Officer 3 Jerry dela Torre said.

Prior to the explosion, Mejica and a man identified only as “Bulldog” were arguing heatedly, he said.

Mejica was heard daring Bulldog to detonate the explosive he was holding, Dela Torre added.

Bulldog fled the scene, Dela Torre said.