(UPDATE 2 – 3:08 p.m.) ) LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Two policemen died and 15 others, including a lawmaker and his wife, were hurt when a hand grenade exploded in Abra early Thursday.
Authorities from the Cordillera Police Tactical Operations Center said the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. during a fiesta in Brgy. Poblacion, La Paz town.
While the people were gathered at the town plaza to witness a fireworks display, an explosion was suddenly heard, which coincided with the event, killing Police Officer 3 Carlos Baccali Bocaig and Police Officer 2 Frenzel Buneng Kitoyan.
Among those injured were Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos.
Also hurt were the following:
1) Acting Chief of Police of La Paz
2) Police Senior Inspector Apdilon C Galong
3) Police Officer Richard Basiag, 41
4) Barangay Captain Darroll Azdi B. Gonzales, 32
5) Marc Rowjan Beronilla, 24, a resident of Poblacion, La Paz, Abra
6) Diosdado Mina, 18, cameraman; resident of South Poblacion, Bucay, Abra
7) Jayson Bernabe T. Zales, 35, a resident of North Poblacion, Bucay, Abra
8) Ryan Jun Camacho Marasan, 37, a resident of Zone 3, Bangued, Abra
9) Benedicto Doque Jr., 32, a resident of Brgy Talogtog, Dolores, Abra
10) Eva Marie Panagtay Sales, 38, a resident of Poblacion, Peñarrubia, Abra
11) Juanito Zales, 37, a resident of Brgy Siblong, Bucay, Abra
12) Aira Cortez, 17 years old, native of Dolores, Abra
13) Leyze Rose Pe Benito, 23 years old, teacher at Queen of Peace High School, La Paz, Abra and resident of San Jose Norte, Manabo, Abra.
Police investigators said it was likely that the still unidentified perpetrator joined the crowd when the fireworks display started and then threw the grenade near the stage where the victims were as evidenced by the two levers of what was believed to be MK2 fragmentation hand grenades recovered from the crime scene.
The Abra police alerted all adjacent municipalities to conduct checkpoint for the possible arrest of those behind the blast.
A regional special investigation task force headed Police Chief Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco has been activated to look into the incident and give justice to all the victims of the explosion.
