Grenade, shabu found in abandoned motorcycle

CEBU, Philippines - Residents in Barangay 8, Tuburan, Cebu were reportedly gripped by fear last Thursday over a bag placed on an abandoned motorcycle which they suspected to have contained bomb.

Senior Inspector Leo Logroño, chief of Tuburan Police Station, and his men responded to the area after receiving reports from the residents and cordoned an area in front of a university where a Rusi motorcycle was found abandoned.

To avoid any untoward incident, Logroño said they waited for an expert to inspect the sling bag placed on the motorcycle.

Members of the Bomb Squad and operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Police Provincial Office later arrived.

Senior Police Officer 1 Reynante Solante of PIB said they inspected the motorcycle and the bag and did not find any bomb on them.

However, they reportedly found a hand grenade, several sachets of suspected shabu estimated to be worth P1,180,000, and an identification card of radio station dyTX bearing the name of Wilfredo Diamante.

As per initial investigation, Solante said, Diamante was a barangay  captain of Cogon, Tuburan and a brother of incumbent mayor Aljun Diamante.

Solante cannot say yet if the items found on Thursday afternoon is related to the intense political rivalry in Tuburan since their investigation is still ongoing.

He also said he has not yet talked with Wilfredo.

Mayor Diamante, when sought for his statement, said the incident is a new tactic of his rival Daphne Lagon and a desperate move because it involved his brother.  

“Desperado na kaayo na sila. Ambot unsa na pud kaha ang sunod nila nga himoon,” the mayor said, as he challenged Lagon to “stop whatever she is doing.”

Lagon, for her part, denied any involvement in last Thursday’s incident.

“Kabalo na man ang mga tawo diri kung kinsa ang namaligya og shabu diri sa Tuburan. Mga tawo na lang ang mohukom karong eleksyon, hapit na,” she said.

Lagon said she is running for the mayoralty post because she wanted a change in their town, which is under Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS). — (FREEMAN)