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Sunday, November 20, 2005
Grenade, gunshots spook Moalboal guards
A HAND grenade thrown at a group of security guards disrupted the peace in Barangay Saavedra, Moalboal last Thursday—the latest incident in a land dispute that has plagued that town for two years.
No one was hurt, though. The grenade did not explode.
According to SPO1 Jose Tacoloy of the Moalboal Police Station, the past months remained peaceful, and no trouble erupted between security guards hired by Tri-Island Holdings Inc. and residents of Saavedra.
He said there were no more complaints in relation to the conflict for some time. Residents and the security guards have previously clashed because of a conflict over ownership of some lots and the fencing of these areas.
Last Oct. 26, the Court of Appeals ordered the Moalboal Municipal Government not to tear down the fences Tri-Island put up around the property it is claiming in the southwestern Cebu town.
Last Thursday night, one of the guards saw a hand grenade land on the lot they were guarding.
They also heard three successive gunshots.
Clyde Dequito, the guard who reported the incident to the Moalboal Police Station Friday morning, said they did not see anyone throw the grenade.
When police went to check the area, they saw the grenade with its safety pin still intact.
A pair of slippers was also beside the grenade.
At first, the guards did not know what was thrown at them.
It was after they found out that it was a grenade that they panicked and decided to inform the police.
Tacoloy said 32 guards were on duty at the time, but 15 of them were in their barracks.
Police believe the incident is connected to the land ownership conflict.
Residents and security guards have been at odds since Tri-Island Holdings Inc. staked its claim over 300 hectares of property in the town.
Residents, though, stood firm that the land was theirs.
Since then, a series of skirmishes occurred between both parties, prompting the Cebu Provincial Police Office to request a team from the Regional Mobile Group to remain at the Saavedra Barangay Hall to ease the tension.
Both parties were also summoned to a dialogue.
The land dispute is now pending trial at the Regional Trial Court in Barili. (MEA)
(November 20, 2005 issue)
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