Sun.Star: 13 hurt in Baguio grenade blast

BAGUIO CITY – Thirteen people were injured after a hand grenade was detonated by a still unidentified suspect who was last seen running away from the main gate of Saint Louis University along Bonifacio Street late Tuesday afternoon. Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Elvira Calina identified nine of the victims as Tony Francis Atijera, 18, a resident of Marcoville; Oliver Calara, 19, who lives in Camp 7, Kennon Road; John Rajanam, 18, who resides at Triniville, La Trinidad, Benguet; Alexander Quijada, 18, of Shangri-la Village; Mark Alvin Guerren, 23, of Green Valley; Angelo Magsino, 22; PJ Balegan Iglesias, 22, of La Trinidad, Benguet; Lee Troy Tagudar, 19, of Happy Homes; and Allan Catu Pongtilan, 20, of Lower Quirino – Magsaysay (QM) Subdivision. Baguio City Police Director Moises Guevarra identified the other victims as Zala Shane Flores, Jan Robles Rafanan, Edward Casulla and MJ Calugdan. Guevarra said initial report showed a lone male was seen running away from the SLU main gate after he allegedly lobbed a hand grenade towards a crowd of students walking and standing in front of nearby Anita building at around 5:55 p.m. Tuesday. "This was not a pillbox explosion as reported to us earlier," he clarified. All victims were rushed by security guards, other students, as well as volunteers of 911 On Call and the Baguio City Emergency Medical Service to the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart. They were subsequently declared out of danger by attending physicians, Guevarra added. He said he has already assigned several police units to secure the area, conduct interviews of possible witnesses, and also to conduct a follow-up investigation of the incident for the possible identification and arrest of the suspect. - Sun.Star