Grenade explodes in man’s hand during police chase

A man out on bail for a robbery case died after a grenade that he tried to throw at pursuing policemen exploded in his hand in barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

Faustino Navarro Jr., 34, a native of Aloguinsan town, Cebu, was killed on the spot.

The police responded to an armed person alarm and chased him, 62-year-old Navarro, Virgilio Maquiling, and two other men who were earlier spotted in a vacant lot in sitio Tigbao at noon.

A 9mm pistol was recovered from Navarro’s possession.

Ownership of the gun was traced to SPO1 Boy Omana, who said the gun was stolen after his house in barangay Labangon during a burglary a few months ago, said Senior Insp. Michael Angelo Beltran, chief of the Talamban police.

Navarro was wanted for robbery and was issued an arrest warrant last August 2011 by Regional Trial Court Judge Simeon Dumdum of Branch 7. He posted bail for his temporary release.

Beltran said he and his men went to sitio Tigbao after they received reports that a group of armed men were seen in a grassy vacant lot around noon.

At the sign of the police officers, the four men scampered, leaving behind their parked motorcycles.

One armed man was chased until he reached a subdivision fence.

Beltran said the man pulled out a grenade, took out the pin but slipped as he was about to throw the explosive at the police who were about 400 meters away.

Police apprehended Maquiling, a carpenter from Cebu City, while the other men escaped.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said they learned the real identity of Navarro with the help of the Aloguinsan police.

At the station, Maquiling said he was just picked up by Navarro for lunch.

Police learned that Navarro rented a room in Talamban located near a bank.

The two other companions are still at large although police said they have their names.

Santander commended the Talamban police for their immediate response.