Police officers wounded in Cadiz grenade blast

Two officers of the Cadiz City Police Station were treated for shrapnel wounds in the body after a grenade exploded as they were serving an arrest warrant against a local resident on Sunday in Barangay Tinampaan. Police Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr., spokesman of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, on Monday identified the wounded Philippine National Police officers as Senior Police Officer 3 Richard Teologo and Senior Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Contrivida. Police Chief Inspector Noel Mana-ay said that Teologo and Contrivida were about to arrest Raymundo Recla, 48, of Purok Slaughter in Barangay Tinampaan, for attempted murder, when the blast occurred. The suspect's 15- and 17-year-old sons allegedly hurled a hand grenade against the arresting officers wounding Teologo and Contrivida. Still, Recla was arrested and is presently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Cadiz City. He failed to post bail, set at P120, 000. Judge Renato Muñez issued the arrest order against Recla. The arresting officers were treated and declared out of danger by attending physicians at the Cadiz City District hospital, Mana-ay said. Police Senior Superintendent Manuel Felix, Negros Occidental PNP director would recommend Teologo and Contrivida for the Medalya Ng Sugatang Magiting. —Carmela G. Lapeña/VS, GMANews.TV