Grenade-carrying grade 10 student charged

BACOLOD CITY — A 21-year-old student is facing a string of charges after he was arrested for possession of a hand grenade and other illegal items at a school in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, April 4.

Bronson Lucas Lacson, a Grade 10 student at the Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School (RBLMHS), was charged with grave threats, illegal possession of an explosive, and illegal possession of dangerous drugs at the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office on April 5.

Illegal possession of explosives is a non-bailable offense as stated under Republic Act 9516 which amended Presidential Decree No. 1866 which prohibits the unlawful possession of firearms and explosives.

Anyone found guilty by the court for illegal possession of explosives faces the penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison.

Aside from a hand grenade, the police also recovered marijuana buds pegged at P120, and a tooter from Lacson.

Col. Cenon Vargas, Talisay City police chief, said they have yet to determine the source of the hand grenade.

He said Lacson has been changing his story on where the grenade came from.

“Further investigation is still underway,” Vargas said.

Classes at the RBLMHS in Talisay City, Negros Occidental were suspended after Lacson was found with a hand grenade at 9:15 a.m. last April 4.

Students, some of whom were heard crying, were asked to leave their classrooms while the suspect was frisked.

Lt. Abegael Donasco, Talisay City Police Station deputy chief, said the students had to be evacuated to allow the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit secure the school grounds.

The police went after Lacson following a report from a pedicab driver that he was threatened by a RBLMHS student with a hand grenade.

When police responded to validate the report, they recovered from Lacson a hand grenade which was kept in his underwear.

Lacson is currently detained at the Talisay City Police Station.

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