5 hurt in Marikina grenade blast

MANILA, Philippines - At least five people were hurt when a grenade exploded in Barangay Parang, Marikina City Saturday night.

Venus Gapultos, 34; Jovan Bag, 28; Richard Bejoc, 34; John Paul Cañal, 16; and Angeline Doctor, 32, were standing at the corner of G. Del Pilar and Paraiso streets just before 8 p.m. Saturday when “two men riding a motorcycle passed by them and suddenly an explosion happened,” city police chief Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Jagmis said.

The victims were taken to the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, he said.

No one managed to take note of the plate number of the motorcycle, he added.

Senior Inspector Glen Aculana, chief investigator of the Marikina police, said crime scene investigators are still studying the grenade fragments recovered at the scene.

Initial reports indicate that the attack may be linked to the illegal drug trade, but Jagmis refused to elaborate, insisting that police officers are verifying the angle.