KORONADAL CITY – A soldier-trainor was killed while nine others were injured when a fragmentation grenade accidentally went off during grenade handling demonstration inside an Army Reservist training ground in General Santos City on Monday afternoon.
Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., speaking for regional police office, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that training officials of Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM) were conducting Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance Agent (EORA) training at 4 p.m. at the 12th Regional Community Defense Group headquarters in Barangay Asinan, Buayan, General Santos City when the accident happened.
He identified the lone fatality as Technical Sgt. Pablo M. Balansag of ARESCOM.
“An instructor was holding a grenade demonstrating it in front of trainees when it accidentally went off,” Galgo said.
Galgo earlier reported only four persons were injured in the blast.
The police and military in General Santos are on red alert status as the city celebrates Tuna Festival.
“Be calm and don’t panic. It was an accidental explosion,” Galgo added after text messages spread overnight on alleged bombing incident in the city. CDG/rga
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