2 watchmen hurt in grenade blast

MANILA, Philippines - Two volunteer watchmen were hurt when motorcycle-riding men lobbed a grenade at a village outpost in Mandaluyong City at past midnight yesterday.

Ronald Tiangco and Tirso Geronimo suffered shrapnel wounds in the legs and back. They were rushed to the Mandaluyong City Medical Center for treatment.

According to initial reports, Tiangco, Geronimo and Froilan Eusebio were at the village outpost at around 1:45 a.m. when the attack occurred.

Chief Inspector Herculano Mago Jr., chief investigator of the city police, said the village watchmen noticed two men on a motorcycle repeatedly passing their village outpost prior to the explosion.

According to Mago, Eusebio and at least nine other volunteers were hanging out at the outpost when the motorcycle’s back rider lobbed the grenade in their direction.

“The grenade hit an iron post and the sound attracted the (attention of) barangay officials, who immediately dived for cover or ran for their safety after seeing it,” Mago said in an interview.

Eusebio told police the explosion was “double the sound of the Goodbye Philippines firecracker.” He escaped injury by ducking into the outpost, whose glass window was destroyed by the blast.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Tyrone Masigon ordered a deeper investigation of the incident.