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BAGUIO CITY: A grenade explosion rocked a billiard
hall at Block 4, Hilltop section of the Baguio City Public Market on
Sunday night leaving one person dead and 16 others wounded.
The grenade was reportedly lobbed
inside the Carols billiard hall by still unidentified men at about
7:15 p.m. causing panic among those in nearby establishments.
The report released by the Baguio
City Police Office (BCPO) indicated that one of those injured in the
explosion, Joel Desier, 29, died while being rushed to the hospital,
while the 16 others are now out of danger.
Identified among those injured
are Andres Kiwayan, 19; Rudy Joven Layaban, 30; Welvin Layaban, 17;
Chester Takimpay, 30; Edward Laleo, 36; Rosalyn Aglasi; Edward Lako,
29; Boyet Acles, 35; Mariano Wandas, 32; Salonga Balolang, 20;
Jasper Peralta, 24; Roman Maggay, 22; Rodence Beddal, 29; Aaron
Pasiwen, 38; Atilano Pasagan Jr. , 24; and Pedro Desier.
Members of Rescue 911 0n Call
responded to the incident and managed to rush the victims to Baguio
General Hospital and Medical Center except for Pasagan who was
brought to the Sto Niño Hospital.
The first team of the Scene of
the Crime Operatives that responded to the crime site recovered
fragments and the safety lever of the grenade.
C/Insp. Engelbert Soriano, head
of the BCPO Station 7, told reporters Monday that investigation is
on going to determine the motive of the explosion and to establish
the identity of the suspect.
Residents who were near the crime
site told reporters that some of the victims even managed to shout
“Granada [grenade]!” before the actual explosion.
It is the second time that a
grenade exploded inside a billiard hall in Baguio in less than a
year.
At least 12 persons, mostly
students, were injured when a grenade exploded inside a billiard
hall and internet shop near the main gate of the Saint Louis
University night on Oct. 2.
The grenade explosion at the city
market also happened exactly a week after a grenade blast also
killed one person and injured 18 other in Tabuk City, Kalinga on
June 23.
--Harley F. Palangchao
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