Thursday, October 04, 2007 ‘SLU grenade blast due to gang war escalation’ By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
YOUTH violence in Baguio rose to a higher level as at least 12 students (not 13 as earlier reported) were injured in an explosion inside a computer shop near the main gate of Saint Louis University late Tuesday afternoon.
Initial reports disclosed that the targeted establishment -- Control Shift Computer Shop at the basement of Anita building along Bonifacio Street was a known hideout of the Pinoy True Crips (PTC) fraternity.
"The present gang war between the PTC, who allied themselves with the Bloods (another youth gang) over a year ago, has been ongoing for several months now against two other gangs," said a reliable source, who named these two other rival gangs as the North Side Terrorists and the Rappers Delta Foundation.
Reportedly recovered by a scene-of-the-crime operations (Soco) team of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at the blast scene Tuesday night were MK2 fragmentation grenade parts such as a safety lever, a blast set and assorted shrapnel.
Inspector Emilio Dallo, head of the Baguio City Police Office Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Unit, said an MK2 fragmentation grenade contains trinitrotoluene or TNT flakes and has a 15-meter blast radius, which is about 90 square meters wide.
"The victims were very fortunate to have emerged from the explosion with only minor injuries. That explosion could have killed them," he stressed.
Senior Superintendent Moises Guevarra, BCPO director, said that although they still have to identify the suspect who lobbed the grenade, witnesses have already been questioned about his description.
The suspect was described by one of the witnesses to be wearing a pair of camouflage short pants, who, while going down the stairway leading to the said computer shop "looked emotionally disturbed (while) looking for someone."
"The possible motive may have been a retaliation for some incident that may have happened earlier but we are still trying to confirm this," Guevarra said on Wednesday.
He added he already ordered the creation of Task Force Rizal, headed by Superintendent Allan Campos, who would conduct a deeper probe into this and other related incidents. "We named it Task Force Rizal because it will be in charge of the youth, whom Rizal called as the ‘Hope of the Fatherland’."
Guevarra said he directed members of Task Force Rizal to intensify police visibility along the city's streets and in public places, also in other places where youth groups usually converge. "This is to preempt any possible violence among them even before it even starts."
Sun.Star Baguio earlier reported a hand grenade was detonated by a still unidentified suspect, last seen running away from SLU's main gate at around 5:55PM Tuesday afternoon.
This, after he allegedly lobbed a grenade into the computer shop managed by Leonard Oliganga Christian, 26, married, a resident of Engineers Hill.
The blast victims were identified as Tony Francis Atijera Cardenas, 18, a resident of Marcoville; Oliver Calara Padua, 19, who lives in Camp 7, Kennon Road; John Rafanan Robles, 20, who resides at Triniville, La Trinidad, Benguet; Alexandre Christian Quijada Villarin, 18, of Shangri-la Village; Mark Alvin Agyao Guerrero, 23, of Green Valley; Angelo Magsino, 22; PJ Iglesias Baligan, 22, of La Trinidad, Benguet; Leeros Renato Pagado, 19, of Happy Homes; Allan Pongtilan Catu, 20, of Lower Quirino - Magsaysay Subdivision; Sela Shane Biray Flores, 19; Edward Perez Casulla, 25; and MJ Calugdan, 18. It was not confirmed who among the victims are members of the PTC.
All victims were rushed by security guards, other students as well as volunteers of 911 On Call and the Baguio City Emergency Medical Service to the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart. They were subsequently declared out of danger by attending physicians.
But another source said it is possible that more victims were hurt in the explosion but preferred not to be treated at the SLU hospital since they only sustained minor injuries. Others may have gone to other hospitals.
