3 persons hurt in hospital explosion

Three persons were hurt in a grenade blast inside the Notre Dame Hospital here on Sunday night.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes said police arrested Esmael Usop, who was inside Room 227 when the incident happened.

Usop reportedly asked hospital patient watcher Nobaisa Pangalian to call a nurse because a patient, Badrudin Saludsong, was having difficulty breathing.

Reyes said when Pangalian and the nurse were walking near the room, Usop emerged shouting: “Run, there’s a grenade at the door” and shortly after, there was a loud explosion.”

He said hospital guard Emelio Tayrus, and watchers Pangalian and her sister Baisa suffered shrapnel wounds, but were later declared out of danger by hospital authorities.

Warrant

Reyes said Saludsong, who was being treated for a wound he got from a recent shootout with lawmen, has pending warrants for his arrest in connection with the killing of a political figure and another involving a local election official in Barira, Maguindanao.

Police, however, still could not determine the connection between Saludsong and Usop.

Usop denied involvement in the blast. “I don’t know who placed the hand grenade at the door,” he told reporters.

Police said cases of malicious mischief and frustrated murder were being readied against Usop.

Another angle being looked into by the police is the allegation that Saludsong’s relatives wanted him transferred to another hospital as his bills have reached over P100,000.