ONE of the three victims of a grenade explosion on New Year's Day in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City died while being treated at the Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) last Wednesday.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz identified Thursday the fatality as Bonifacio Tiayon, 21, of Barangay Banago.
The injured were Rene Remegio, 24 and Tongtong Betua, both residents of Barangay Banago, who are still being treated at CLMMRH.
De la Paz said that according to initial investigation, the three victims were celebrating the New Year's Day around 3 a.m. Tuesday when they were hit by a pillbox explosion.
It was determined in a follow-up investigation that it was not a pillbox but a grenade explosion.
The victims sustained injuries in different parts of their bodies. They were rushed to CLMMRH.
Police recovered from the crime scene a safety handle or lever of the grenade.
The two suspects were identified as Rogelio Acebedo Sr. and Ramie Poja.
He said investigation also revealed that Poja was the one who threw the grenade at the victims because of old grudge, while Acebedo was seen holding a sub-machine gun.
De la Paz said the police are now preparing murder and two counts of frustrated murder against the two suspects who are still at-large. (MAP)