2 dead, 2 hurt in Makati grenade blast

MANILA, Philippines—A day before the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF), a grenade explosion left two people dead and two others wounded in Makati City, one of the venues for the three-day event expected to be attended by business and civil society leaders from over 30 countries.

But Makati police officials were quick to clarify that the blast was due to a grudge held by the attacker against one of the victims.

“This is a remote incident and is in no way connected to the forum. It’s too far away from the central business district,” Makati police chief Manuel Lukban said over the phone.

The grenade exploded around 9 a.m. on Tuesday in front of a neighborhood store near Kalayaan Avenue at the Teachers Compound in Barangay (village) West Rembo where the victims were chatting.

Joseph Teodones, who was visiting relatives in the area, died on the spot. The other victim, Perla Due, died in the afternoon as she was being treated at Ospital ng Makati.

The wounded were identified only as Butchoy and Helen de Ocampo, both residents of Teachers Compound.

Lukban said the target of the attacker was Butchoy who suffered minor shrapnel wounds and was now out of the hospital.

The grenade thrower was described as a man wearing a striped shirt who had covered his face with a bonnet.

“He lobbed the grenade [in the direction of] the people chatting in front of the store,” Lukban said.

According to witnesses, the attacker shouted: “You’re my first target, Butchoy. Your sibling is next.”

Butchoy’s kin believe that the grenade-thrower had been hired by a known enemy of their family.

Lukban, however, refused to name the suspect pending the results of their investigation.

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