1 killed, 16 hurt in Baguio market blast

BAGUIO CITY – Exactly a week after the bloody grenade explosion in Tabuk City in Kalinga, another freak grenade blast occurred Sunday night at the Baguio City market killing one and injuring 16 others, police said yesterday.

Police though, was quick to dispel any link to terrorism on the Sunday blast at the market as investigators have so far found out that the grenade thrower was only irked when he lost his bet at the billiards hall along Block 4 in the market area at Hilltop, here. Baguio City police named the lone casualty as Joel Ruiz Desier, 29, while those rushed to the Baguio General Hospital were: Andres Kiwayan, 19; Rudy Joven, 30; Welvin Layaban, 17; Chester Takimpay, 30; Edward Laleo, 36 and Rosalyn Aglasi, 23.

Others were Edward Lako, 29; Boyet Acles, 35; Mario Wandas, 32; Salonga Balolang, 20; Jesper Peralta, 24; Roman Maggay, 27; Rodence Beddal, 29; Aaron Pasiwen, 38; Atilano Pasagan Jr., 24; and Pedro Desier Jr.

The victims were all inside the Carol’s Billiard Hall owned by Carolyn Aginsod when the still unnamed grenade thrower lobbed the explosive at around 7:15 p.m.

Baguio police investigators are now questioning the blast victims to nail down who might have been there at the billiard hall who lost his bet.

On June 22, a still unidentified suspect threw an MK II fragmentation grenade in front of the Tabuk City, Kalinga city hall killing one and injuring 18 others.

Police had shrugged off tribal vendetta or terror as motive in the Kalinga blast.    – With AP