Boy hurls pillboxes at churchgoers

Police arrested yesterday morning a 15 year-old boy for allegedly hurling pillbox bombs at churchgoers in Caloocan City.

The suspect, a resident of 130 J. Felipe Street, Caloocan, is now detained at the city police detention cell as he awaits charges.

While no injuries were reported, patroling policemen said they heard a minor explosion at about 5 a.m. outside San Roque Chuch.

As soon as policemen arrived on the scene, they saw the suspect and his companions running away from the church. Police apprehended the suspect, but the others escaped.

Confiscated from the boy were several pillbox bombs. Cheers from people were reportedly heard as they saw the suspect collared by police.

According to PO2 Edgardo Esguerra, churchgoers have been long complaining about the suspect and his friends for harassing and hurling homemade bombs at them.

Police are set to file charges of illegal possession of improvised explosive devices against the boy and his companions.

Meanwhile, a drunken security guard was killed when the service pistol he angrily threw away because it had jammed, went off during a birthday party in Parañaque City early yesterday morning.

The victim was identified as Jessie Custodio, 41, married, a security guard of Dolphin Security & General Services and resident of Sandoval St., Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City. He succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest while being taken to the Protacio Hospital.

Investigation conducted by SPO4 Glenn Tigson showed the incident occurred at around 12:30 a.m. in front of the Blue Line Trading office located at Roligion Compound, Quirino Avenue, Parañaque.

Probers said the victim was drinking with some friends when he suddenly pulled out his gun and attempted to fire into the air, but the gun jammed.

Irked, he threw the gun by the side. Unfortunately for him, the gun suddenly fired upon hitting the ground.

Also in Caloocan, two Japanese businessmen were robbed by a still unidentified man the other day, losing P200,000 in cash and valuables.

Victims Takashi Tadokoro, 29, and Akihiro Kawasaki, have been temporarily residing at the Tower Hotel along Mabini Street in Ermita, Manila. The police said the incident occurred at about 10 a.m. in front of Ever-Gotesco Grand Central in Monumento.

The victims had just alighted from a taxi cab when the suspect sneaked up on them and snatched the clutch bag of Tadokoro. The suspect immediately escaped on foot. –Matthew Estabillo and Rainier Allan Ronda