3 wounded in Davao Norte grenade blast

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines — Three persons were wounded following a grenade explosion in Carmen, Davao del Norte, early Monday, the police said.

Superintendent Glen Cristenes, spokesperson of the Davao del Norte police office, identified the victims as Antonio Digan, and Abdul Lumanta and his wife Jehan, all residents of Ising village.

Initial investigation by Carmen police revealed the victims were having a drinking spree in front of their boarding house in Purok (Settlement) 6, Ising, when the explosion happened around 12:30 a.m.

The victims were rushed to the Carmen District Hospital and later transferred to Davao Medical Center here for treatment of multiple injuries.

“Witnesses and the victims themselves saw two unidentified male persons arrive and throw something believed to be a fragmentation grenade in their direction and a loud blast followed,” said Cristenes, adding the perpetrators fled immediately.

Senior Inspector Philip Ayban, Carmen police chief, said a certain Poloy and a still unidentified man was tagged as behind the grenade-throwing incident.

Ayban told reporters that Poloy held a grudge against the Lumantas, and that he and an unidentified companion were already target of a police manhunt.