Thursday, August 14, 2008
P5T reward pushed 2 suspects to lob grenade at police station
THE promise of P5,000 led Arnold Montero and his brother Marlito Montero Jr. to agree to the plan to throw a hand grenade at the Tudela Police Station last July 5.
Arnold, who was presented to reporters yesterday, said they did not intend to hurt anybody.
“We were told to throw it inside the fence, but not inside the police station,” Arnold said in Bisaya.
However, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria said there was no other structure in the area.
Explosion
“The intention of the explosion was the police station. Otherwise, they would not have thrown it there,” he told reporters.
Arnold admitted he already used up the P5,000 given to him.
He also could not say why Pablito Diocampo, reportedly a former municipal councilor of Tudela, ordered them to throw the grenade. He only said the police needed to be taught a lesson.
“I don’t know why ilang patagamon ang pulis (they want to teach the police a lesson),” Valmoria said.
Arnold said Diocampo first gathered him, Marlito and Riolito Mariamonte last July 1 and told them about the plan. He alleged that Diocampo was the one who gave them the hand grenade.
Motorcycle
Mariamonte drove the motorcycle while Marlito hurled the grenade at the police station.
The day after, he said Mariamonte gave them the remaining P3,500.
Before his arrest, Arnold would have started a job as fish warden of the sanctuary in Barangay Puertobello.
However, members of the Tudela Police Station and the Special Reaction Unit arrested him on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Apolinario Buaya for the crime of murder.
Arnold and Marlito are facing a non-bailable case for the death of Anton Daisog in Ormoc City. The Ormoc City Police Office arrested Marlito days after the grenade blast.
Asked why he killed Daisog, Arnold said they had an argument at a benefit dance held in Ormoc City and accused Daisog of mauling him and his brother. (MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 14, 2008 issue)
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