5 killed, at least 7 hurt in Mayon Volcano explosion

Five people, including four foreigners, were killed while at least seven were injured when Mayon Volcano in Albay spewed ash and rocks Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Rafaelito Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense-5 director, said four foreigners and a local tour guide died in the “phreatic explosion,” which occurred near the summit around 8 a.m.

The fatalities include tour guide Jerome Berin of Malilipot and three German nationals whose names have yet to be ascertained, Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, said in a text message.

Injured are tour guide Keneth Gesalva and his Australian ward Straw Vega, as well as tour guide Jorge Cordovilla and his Thai wards Udome Kiat, Utan Ruchi, Boonchi, and Benjama, Bataller said.

Alejandro said two Air Force helicopters were sent to the volcano and were still conducting search and rescue operations as of Tuesday afternoon, to locate the hikers.

Alejandro said his office has yet to receive information if the explosion affected people living near the volcano, which is geographically shared by Legazpi City, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Tabaco City, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo.

“So far wala, ang report pa lang dito is ‘yung mga nag-tour doon, ‘yung umakyat,” Alejandro said.

Bataller said it is the first time since 1993 that Mayon Volcano acted up “without a warning.”

“Para itong ‘yung noong 1993 na nag-erupt nang walang kawarning-warning. Dati-rati kasi nagpaparamdam ito, may mga pagyanig kang mararamdaman. Noong 1993, bigla siyang nagbuga at mahigit 70 katao ang namatay,” he said. (John Roson)

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Blasts rock mining firm in Palawan

Two explosions occurred at the compound of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. in Bataraza, Palawan, Wednesday night, but no one was reported injured, police said.

The explosions occurred past 8 p.m. near the company’s private airstrip and power facility, Senior Supt. Atanacio Macalan, Palawan provincial police director, said in a phone interview.

No one was hurt, but the explosions reportedly created small craters, he said.

One of the craters was measured as having a 12-inch radius and 4-inch depth, Insp. Pearl Lambanmarzo, provincial police spokeswoman, said in a separate phone interview, citing field reports.

Macalan ruled out any possibility that the New People’s Army had a hand in the blasts, saying there had been no reports that the rebel group has a presence in the area.

“Wala ‘yun, wala ‘yun. ‘Yung tinitingnan nating mga motibo dito, isa is politically, business, or done by unscrupulous characters,” he said.

“Tinitingnan natin kung politically motivated kasi at this point in time election period na, pero wala kaming narinig na itong Rio Tuba Mining Corp. made a pronouncement na mayroon silang sinusuportahang candidate. Since election period lang, I said, tingnan natin ‘yun,” the police official added.

Lambanmarzo said blast investigators were sent this morning from the provincial capital, Puerto Princesa City, to determine what caused the explosions.

They have yet to relay investigation results as Bataraza, Palawan’s southernmost town, is a 4- to 5-hour drive from Puerto Princesa and has poor mobile phone signal, she said.

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp., owned by Nickel Asia and its Japanese partner Sumitomo Metals and Mining Co. Ltd., has been mining nickel ores and selling these to smelters abroad since 1977. (John Roson)

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3 hurt as grenade blast rocks Baguio amid Panagbenga Festival

Three people were injured when a fragmentation grenade exploded in Baguio City early Sunday, shortly before the highlight of the city’s Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival) started, police said.

Gilbert Salvador, 29; Joseph Espada, 49; and Genard Palomique, 33, all local residents, suffered “minor injuries” on their legs and backs, Baguio City Police director Senior Supt. Jesus Cambay Jr. said.

All three victims were rushed by responding policemen and volunteers to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, he said.

The blast occurred around 6:50 a.m. at the basement of the Melvin Jones Grandstand in Burnham Park, where the Baguio City Volunteers Against Crime holds office, city police spokesman Senior Insp. Virgilio Hidalgo said by phone.

Initial investigation showed that an unidentified suspect threw an MK 2 fragmentation grenade while Salvador, Joseph Espada, and Palomique were busy attending to their work inside the office, Hidalgo said.

The incident occurred barely two hours before the Panagbenga Festival’s “grand float parade” started around 8 a.m.

The parade started at the Panagbenga Park, passed through Session Road in the city center, and ended at the Baguio Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park past 11 a.m.

This year’s festival kicked off on Feb. 10 and will close on March 4.

Cambay said the blast “was not a terrorist act” and “could not be related” to the annual festival, which draws millions of spectators to the city.

“It is very unfortunate that this isolated incident occurred despite the festive mood that the residents and visitors are now experiencing in this mountain resort,” Cambay added.

Investigators were still trying to determine the perpetrator’s identity and location as of this writing. (John Roson)

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Bomb blast hits 2 buses in Sultan Kudarat; at least 6 hurt

At least six people were injured when a bomb exploded and hit two passenger buses in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, late Saturday afternoon, police and military officials said.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police director, said the explosion occurred at the “roundball,” or rotunda, in Brgy. Kalawag 2, around 5:45 p.m.

The explosion hit a Husky bus (UWI-541) driven by Nelson Pallado and a Yellow Bus Line unit (MVV-325) driven by Robinson Salatutan, Balquin said in a text message.

The blast injured Salatutan and his 23-year-old conductor Emil Sangki, as well as passengers Hilmor Hapinat, 36; Jonathan Delfin, 23; Kevin Dolfo, 19; and Rachel Catequista, 27, Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said in a separate message.

Initial investigation by the Army’s Explosives and Ordnance Disposal team indicated that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device made of ammonium nitrate, fuel, and oil, and had nails for shrapnel, Asto said.

Flames engulfed the Husky bus, which was traveling from Cotabato City to Tacurong City, and had to be put out by firefighters, Balquin said. (John Roson)

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2 kids injured in Capiz blast

Two children were seriously injured when a grenade exploded at a house in Ivisan, Capiz, on Monday, police said.

Jhon Rey Dayan and Jerry Boy Valderama, both 12 years old, were taken to the Capiz Provincial Hospital immediately after the explosion, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Western Visayas regional police director, said.

The explosion occurred at the home of Dayan’s father, Norie, in Sitio Pinamasawan, Brgy. Ilaya, around 10:15 a.m.

Investigation showed that the children found the M203 grenade rifle ammunition and tried to open it, Cruz said.

The children are already in stable condition Tuesday, but one of them lost both his feet, Senior Supt. Domingo Cabillan, Capiz Provincial Police director, said. (John Roson)

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Quezon brgy. treasurer, lover hurt in bedside blast

A barangay treasurer in San Francisco, Quezon, lost her legs while her live-in partner was also injured when a suspected grenade went off beside their bed, police reported Wednesday.

Miriam De Villa, 33, treasurer of Brgy. Poblacion, and Ernesto Genovaña, 31, were rushed by relatives to a nearby hospital and were later transferred to Lucena City, PO2 Bernard Buñag, investigator at the San Francisco Police, said.

De Villa’s legs were both mutilated while her live-in partner suffered injuries in both feet, Buñag said in his report.

According to Buñag, a certain Donna Rocas called police past 11 p.m. Monday to report the explosion in Purok 3, Brgy. Poblacion.

Members of the San Francisco Police went to the area and found De Villa and Genovaña already being transported by their relatives.

The victims were said to be sleeping when the explosion occurred, Buñag said.

Around 10 a.m. Tuesday, a safety pin believed to be that of the grenade was found at the headboard of the victims’ bed, he said.

Police have asked Anthony Ronnie Arbon, Lenelyn Lamo, and Nick Nabora to explain why the victims mentioned their names after the explosion.

Arbon and Lamo denied any knowledge of the incident while Nabora failed to appear at the police station, Buñag said.

Police are still conducting a follow-up investigation to identify those responsible for the blast. (John Roson)

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2 killed, 5 hurt in Maguindanao blasts

(Update) Two improvised explosive devices (IED) went off in Maguindanao on Monday morning, killing two people and injuring at least five others, police and military officials said.

A “cellphone-triggered” IED went off in Sitio Layning, Brgy. Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, around 8:23 a.m., Senior Supt. Jaime Pido, Maguindanao Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

“Motorcycles usually pass by that area,” Pido said, adding the bomb was made of an 81-millimeter mortar ammunition and appeared “similar” to other IEDs that went off in the province in the past.

Minutes later, around 9 a.m., another bomb went off in the neighboring village of Brgy. Iginagampong, Datu Unsay, injuring six people, Pido said.

“Dalawa daw ‘yung namatay dun sa anim na wounded, yun ang sinabi sa akin ng chief of police ko dun sa Datu Unsay” Pido said when contacted Monday evening.

“Ayaw lang daw magbigay ng pangalan nung mga tao dun… pagkaputok, kinuha agad, dinala (‘yung mga bangkay),” he said.

The police official, however, confirmed that both fatalities were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said one Basit Abas alias Basco, a member of the BIFF, was hit by shrapnel on the face in the blast in Brgy. Salvo.

Abas, along with other BIFF members under Mohaiden Animbang alias Karialan were passing through the area on motorcycles when the bomb exploded.

Animbang and his men were on the way to attend a “kanduli” or thanksgiving event hosted by a certain Tong in Brgy. Iginagampong, Asto said.

The explosion prompted the BIFF members to fired their guns at different directions for two minutes before they resumed their travel, he said.

However, as the group was nearing the “kanduli” venue in Sitio Kalot, Brgy. Iginagampong, another IED made of an 81-millimeter mortar exploded.

Karialan and five followers of a certain Tambako were hit in the second explosion, Asto said.

Meanwhile, Pido said the thanksgiving event in Brgy. Iginagampong is different from another “kanduli” that Mayor Zahara Ampatuan of neighboring Shariff Aguak was set to hold in her town on Tuesday. (John Roson)

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Blasts rock Maguindanao, 6 hurt

(Update) Two improvised explosive devices (IED) went off in Maguindanao on Monday morning, injuring at least seven people, police and military officials said.

A “cellphone-triggered” IED went off in Sitio Layning, Brgy. Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, around 8:23 a.m., Senior Supt. Jaime Pido, Maguindanao Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

“Motorcycles usually pass by that area,” Pido said, adding the bomb was made of an 81-millimeter mortar ammunition and appeared “similar” to other IEDs that went off in the province in the past.

Minutes later, around 9 a.m., another bomb went off in the neighboring village of Brgy. Iginagampong, Datu Unsay, injuring six people, Pido said.

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said one Basit Abas alias Basco, a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), was hit by shrapnel on the face in the blast in Brgy. Salvo.

Abas, along with other BIFF members under Mohaiden Animbang alias commander Karialan were passing through the area on motorcycles when the bomb exploded.

Animbang and his men were on the way to attend a “kanduli” or thanksgiving event hosted by a certain Tong in Brgy. Iginagampong, Asto said.

The explosion prompted the BIFF members to fired their guns at different directions for two minutes before they resumed their travel, he said.

However, as the group was nearing the “kanduli” venue in Sitio Kalot, Brgy. Iginagampong, another IED made of an 81-millimeter mortar exploded.

Karialan and five followers of a certain Tambako were hurt in the second explosion, Asto said.

Meanwhile, Pido said the thanksgiving event in Brgy. Iginagampong is different from another “kanduli” that Mayor Zahara Ampatuan of neighboring Shariff Aguak was set to hold in her town on Tuesday. (John Roson)

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Cagayan de Oro police director sacked over blast

The Northern Mindanao regional police leadership has relieved Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales as director of the Cagayan de Oro City Police following the grenade explosion at a money-lending firm which left eight people injured.

Chief Supt. Gil Hitosis, Northern Mindanao regional police director, said he ordered Rosales’ “administrative relief” over the latter’s failure to prevent Wednesday’s explosion, the second to hit the city in just a little over a month.

“Kinausap ko na sila (Cagayan de Oro City Police) noon na galingan ang pagbabantay para ma-prevent ‘yung mga ganitong klaseng incident at ang binigay ko sa kanilang directive is that the chief PNP wouldn’t want to hear another explosion,” Hitosis said in a phone interview.

“He (Rosales) is not yet relieved per se, but he can no longer function as the city director… we are just applying uniformity of law,” the regional police chief added.

Last Oct. 11, a bomb exploded outside the Maxandria Hotel at the corner of J.R. Borja st. and Aguinaldo st. in the city proper.

Two civilians were killed and two policemen were wounded in the blast. Another improvised explosive device was found under a news crew’s pick-up in the city the same day.

Meanwhile, Hitosis said investigators have yet to determine the motive for Wednesday’s explosion at the Golden Sun Finance Corp. branch along C.M. Recto Ave., Brgy. Lapasan.

The blast came from an MK-2 grenade that was set up like a “booby-trap” on the establishment’s accordion door. (John Roson)

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8 hurt in Cagayan de Oro blast; money lending firm ‘booby-trapped’ with grenade

(Update) Eight people were injured when a grenade planted by still unidentified persons exploded at a money-lending establishment in Cagayan de Oro City early Wednesday, police and military officials said.

Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales, Cagayan de Oro City Police director, said the explosion occurred around 8 a.m. at the Golden Sun Finance Corp. branch along C.M. Recto Ave., Brgy. Lapasan in the city proper.

He identified the injured as security guard JR Palma, Golden Sun employee Varceliza Salamanca, Fritzie Piyos, Danny Ragnag, retired SPO2 Rodolfo Cabutad, SPO2 Ronelio Mendiola, jeepney driver Fernando Biernes, and passenger Roderick Cadevit.

Palma, who was seriously injured, has been taken to the Capitol University Medical Center along with five other victims. Biernes and Cadevit were brought to the Northern Mindanao Regional Medical Center, Rosales said.

Investigation showed that Palma, Salamanca, and another Golden Sun employee were opening the establishment’s accordion door when the grenade went off.

‘Booby trap’

The blast came from an MK-2 grenade that was set up like a “booby-trap” on the accordion door, Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said in an earlier interview.

Members of the Army’s Explosives and Ordnance Disposal unit were quickly sent to cordon the area and determine what type of explosive went off, he said.

“Tinali ‘yung granada sa accordion door, parang booby trap. Ginawang booby trap na pag binira mo ‘yung pinto, mabibira yung tali, kasama ‘yung pin, puputok ‘yung granada,” Rosales said.

Palma bore the brunt of the explosion as he was the one who pulled the accordion door, according to the police official.

Shrapnels also burst from the grenade, hitting the passing jeepney driven by Biernes. Mendiola, who was riding a motorcycle to report for duty at the Cagayan de Oro City Police Station 8, also suffered shrapnel wounds.

Rosales said investigators have yet to identify who planted the grenade, but are looking at the possibility that it was someone “angry” with Golden Sun.

“May galit ito siguro dito sa Golden Sun Finance, may mga finile-an daw kasi ng kaso itong Golden Sun. May finile-an sila ng kaso na mga tao na may utang sa kanila… ‘yan ‘yung anggulo na tinitingnan namin,” he said.

Scam link probed

The explosion came in the wake of investment scams which have duped thousands of people in Mindanao of billions of pesos.

One scam, perpetrated by Aman Futures, has been blamed for at least one killing, abductions, burning of houses, and threats in various parts of Mindanao.

Police said earlier that some of those who lost money in the scam even borrowed money from relatives and financial institutions to invest in Aman.

Rosales said that it was possible, though still too early, to link the grenade attack on Golden Sun with any investment scam.

“Hindi pa natin ma-link ito kasi hindi pa natin nakakausap ‘yung mga teller nila (Golden Sun), mga manager, kung sinu-sino ba ‘yung mga tao na may utang sa kanila… remote pa ‘yang possibility na ‘yan,” he said. (John Roson)

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