Rebels eyed in grenade attack on Toledo house

Toledo City policemen suspect members of the New People's Army were the ones who could have thrown the hand grenade that exploded inside a house in barangay Sto. Niño of the city, last Tuesday evening.

City policeman PO1 Ruel Suquib yesterday told The FREEMAN unidentified people had lobbed the grenade to the kitchen of the house of a certain Luis Jabonillo, who was not home at the time.

The grenade rolled into the living room and exploded near the main door causing severe damages to Jabonilla's furniture, appliances, and the house wall and ceiling.

There was no casualty because Jabonillo's family members were asleep in their respective rooms. Neighbors said Jabonillo himself has been away from home for awhile but they believed rebels could be the culprits because they often saw unidentified men roaming the barangay at night.

There were no reasons however why Jabonillo could be the subject of a rebel attack but there were reports that there is a pending arrest warrant against him for 10 counts of estafa, a matter that may have driven Jabonillo to be away from the barangay.

It was Sto. Niño barangay captain Hayle Baron, a former city policeman, who reported the grenade explosion incident to the police. But the suspects were no longer around when the policemen arrived at the place.

SPO3 Basiliso Balicucu said Jabonillo could not report the incident to the police because he may be afraid of being arrested.

But the police are still investigating further on the motive of the grenade throwing.