3 killed in grenade blast at Antipolo City home

Three people were killed and another was seriously wounded by a grenade explosion inside a house in Antipolo City that was later found to be keeping two more grenades and several rounds of ammunition on Sunday morning.

The blast rocked the hillside bungalow at Sitio (settlement) Taguisan, Bagong Nayon, around 10:35 a.m., killing two occupants—Michael Wong and Arthur de la Cruz—on the spot, the police said.

A third victim, Ronald Tupino, was brought to Antipolo District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, according to Supt. Dennis Macalintal, chief of the Antipolo police.

Ronald was reportedly the nephew of the owner of the house, Norberto Tupino, who was not home when the incident happened.

Another occupant, Benny Flores, remained in critical condition at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Macalintal told the Inquirer in a phone interview. Also hospitalized for a foot injury was Joel Starling.

Eric Ramos, who lives in a neighboring house, was taken under police custody for questioning after he was found keeping drug paraphernalia and a suspected stash of “shabu” in his home.

Policemen responding to the explosion were led to Ramos’ house when they learned that he was “hiding” the wounded Starling for reasons that remain unclear at press time, Macalintal said.

They also found in the Tupino house several rounds of assorted ammunition, as well as two grenades (an M26 and an M33).

Investigators had yet to establish whether the grenade blast was intentional or accidental, and what the victims were doing at the house at the time.

But drug charges would be filed against Ramos while the survivors of the explosion would be charged with illegal possession of explosives and ammunition, Macalintal said.