Grenade near Ombudsman’s house a scare tactic – Robredo

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—While police have yet to establish the motive behind the grenade left near the house of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo believes that the act was not meant to do harm, only to threaten, or even otherwise.

Speaking to reporters, Robredo said that this is because the message left with the grenade which read “Pang densa kay CCM nagmalakit,” doesn’t seem to have a clear meaning.

Police earlier erroneously reported that the note read “nagmamalasakit kay C CJ.”

“If you would read the message, it doesn’t make sense…nothing but a jumble of letters…it’s giving out a mixed message,” Robredo said.

Robredo declined to answer when asked if he thinks the suspect was a supporter of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

One thing for sure, Robredo said, was that the M26 live hand grenade inside a canister left in front of Morales’ house along Soldiers Hills in Barangay (village) Putatan, Muntinlupa City  around 3:30 p.m., was not from the police.

“The grenade’s lot number showed that it did not come from the police,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered police to increase the security detail of Morales.

In a separate interview, Chief Inspector Jovani Martinez, Intelligence chief, said that investigators have already reviewed several portions of videos from the security camera installed at the gates of Morales’ house, but declined to reveal other details so as not to hamper the investigation.