5 hurt in Baguio blasts

Five were injured when unidentified men hurled homemade explosives inside the Baguio Center Mall Sunday afternoon.

Cordillera police chief Arturo Lomibao, however, alleyed fears that the attack was initiated by terrorist groups in the city.

But the police are not discounting the possibility that the attack could be related to the recent arrest of three members of a regional-based Samahang Ilocano Fraternity by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in connection with the kidnap-slay of students Giancarlo Leung and Tihani Tingal last March 8.

Camp Crame-based policemen said the bomb attacks, perpetrated by amateurs, could be a diversionary tactic to distract local investigators in their pursuit of the fraternity angle in the Leung and Tingal case.

Injured in the blasts were Imelda Coremo, 17, a native of Cebu City and resident of Kayang street, Baguio City; Mylena Napuriac, 23, of La Trinidad, Benguet; Melissa Quiampan, 22, and Rowena Budiongan, 26, both of Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City; and Florante Dulaca, 23, of Camp Allen, Baguio City.

The victims were hurt when two homemade bombs hurled from the fourth floor of the mall exploded near them.

The first bomb landed on the railings of the second level and the other on the ground level, leaving a crater on the floor.

The bombers used improvised explosive devices made from firecrackers which were packed in two empty 80ml Yakult plastic containers.

During a search, policemen recovered a third bomb at the Odyssey Record Bar inside the mall. The device was found packed with gunpowder. – Christina Mendez