3 killed in Antipolo grenade blast

Three people died and another was in critical condition after a hand grenade exploded inside a house filled with weapons and munition in Antipolo City, Sunday morning.

The explosion, which rocked the mountainside house owned by Norberto Tupino at Sitio Taguisan, Bagong Nayon, in Antipolo City, at around 10:35 a.m. Sunday, immediately killed Michael Wong and Arthur dela Cruz. Police said the explosion at Tupino’s bungalow came from a PRB-type hand grenade.

At the time of the accident, Tupino’s house was being occupied by his nephew, Ronald, who was declared dead on arrival at Antipolo District Hospital because of the multiple injuries he sustained.

As of this posting, the Antipolo chief of police, Supt. Dennis Macalintal, said in a phone interview on Sunday, that another occupant in the house, Benny Flores, was in critical condition at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center. He added that another occupant, Joel Starling, also remained hospitalized for the injuries he sustained in the right foot.

Macalintal said they were still determining if the grenade accidentally or was intentionally set off. He added that they were still determining what the victims were doing at the time of the accident and their relationship with each other.

The police official said they took in custody the younger Tupino’s neighbor, Eric Ramos, after police found drug paraphernalia and sachets with traces of an illegal substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” inside his house. Authorities were led to Ramos’ residence when they found out that he was hiding in his house the injured Starling.

Macalintal said that while members of the explosive ordnance division were processing the crime scene, they recovered in the Tupino house assorted live ammunition, and an M26 and M33 grenade.

With the pieces of evidence recovered, the police official said they would file against Ramos a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, while a charge of illegal possession of firearms would be filed against the survivors of the blast. Jovic Yee, Philippine Daily Inquirer