Charge readied against Tudela grenade thrower

Tudela police are set to file a charge of attempted murder tomorrow against the man who allegedly threw a grenade at the town’s police station last month.

Police Senior Inspector Ramon Villar said attempted murder charge would be filed against Arnold Montero alias “Notnot” for throwing a hand grenade directly at Villar’s office evening of July 6.

The police official said they have a witness who pointed to Montero and his two other unidentified companions as responsible for the crime.

But Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo was quick to name two other alleged companions of Montero during a conversation with the media at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

Other than Montero, Baquerfo also named certain Cris Argumendo and Ricky Oliveros as the two other suspects who boarded a blue motorcycle.

Baquerfo said a witness saw them speed away to the neighboring town of Poro after throwing a World War II model hand grenade to the police station, located on the first floor of the Tudela Municipal Hall building.

Montero, together with his brother Warlito, was earlier arrested when Region 8 Trial Court Judge Apolinario Buaya issued a warrant of arrest against them for murder.

Baquerfo alleged that Warlito was also identified as the triggerman who attempted on his life last March.

The mayor was quick to conclude that the motive was political, suspecting that his rival Demetrio Granada wanted to illegally unseat him as mayor since last May.

Baquerfo was declared winner by a slim margin against Granada in the 2007 elections but a recount recently made by the court ruled in favor of Granada.

Granada finally had a chance to take over the post as mayor when Baquerfo left his post for an engagement in mainland Cebu. The DILG, however, still considers Baquerfo as the legitimate mayor.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has earlier issued an order imposing 90 days preventive suspension on Baquerfo while his graft case involving a waterworks system in barangay Puertobello is being heard. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB