8 injured in Cagayan de Oro City grenade blast

Experts from police crime laboratories gather pieces of evidence at the grenade explosion scene at a lending firm along C.M. Recto Avenue, Lapasan village, Cagayan de Oro City. The grenade, which was attached to the steel accordion-type door, exploded Wednesday. PHOTO/ JB R. DEVEZA, INQUIRER MINDANAO

MANILA, Philippines—Eight persons were wounded when a hand grenade whose pin was tied to an accordion-type door of a finance firm in Cagayan de Oro City went off as the establishment opened for business around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Gerardo Rosales, Cagayan de Oro City police director, identified the wounded as retired Senior Police Officer 2 Rodolfo Cabutad, SPO2 Ronelio Mendiola of police station 8, Danny Ragcab (an employee of the Mantangale Alibuag Dive Shop next door), Barceliza Salamanca, Fritzie Piyos, Roderick Cadebit, Fernando Biyernes, and security guard RJ Palma.

Rosales said the door was obviously booby-trapped.

He said an MK2 fragmentation grenade tied to the door of the Golden Sun Finance Corp. located at Barangay (village) Lapasan, exploded as wounded employees Salamanca and Piyos and security guard Palma were opening the door. Palma was seriously injured.

The two wounded policemen were traveling on a motorcyle toward Camp Alagar when the blast happened.

Senior Inspector Lemuel Gonda, chief of the Agora Police Station, said two passengers of a passing jeepney—Cadebit and Biyernes—were also wounded.

Chief Supt. Gil Hitosis, police chief for Northern Mindanao, said police were investigating the lending firm to determine if its business transactions had anything to do with the explosion.

Golden Sun Finance Corp. declined to issue any statement pending police investigation.

According to Rosales, investigators have yet to gather witnesses to the blast, adding that a security camera in a nearby establishment may have recorded the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, a radio report quoted Rosales as saying that investigators are looking into the possibility that persons holding a grudge against the finance firm might be responsible for the attack.

 Originally posted at 10:31 am | Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012