1 hurt in Italian restaurant blast

An Italian restaurant in the Glorietta Mall in Makati City was closed down after a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded and destroyed its kitchen yesterday.

SPO1 Lewelie Cristobal of the Makati Police said one person was injured. The police said at around 8:05 a.m. Jericho dela Cruz, 22, a pizza man of Sbarro Italian Restaurant, residing at 29 de Agosto Street, Mandaluyong City, was preparing some viands for the day.

As soon as he ignited the oven inside the kitchen, an explosion took place throwing him to the ground and shattering the glass panes of the restaurant.

Dela Cruz was rushed to the Ospital ng Makati where he was treated for burns and other minor injuries to his arms and face.

The explosion rattled the security personnel and employees of the other stalls inside the mall as some thought it was caused by a terrorist’s bomb.

None of the other stalls were damaged. The restaurant will be closed down for the days to make way for clean up and repairs, the police said.

Meanwhile, three persons were killed in separate incidents at the Southern District of Metro Manila.

In Parañaque City, a woman in her thirties was shot in what the police said was a drug-related incident. SPO4 Ordeo Carino of the Parañaque Police identified the victim as Liza Rosales of Malacañang Dulo, Barangay Don Bosco.

The victim was found with a bullet wound on her back and was brought to the Comm-Care Clinic where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

In Taguig, one person died while two others were placed in critical condition at a hospital after a drinking spree turned sour. Ricky Rafael, 31, a married laborer from Pigtain St., Dinggingbayan, Tipas, was declared dead on arrival at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig after sustaining multiple stab wounds to his body.

His companion Adonis Ocmer, 21, single also of Pigtain St. was placed in critical condition due to multiple stab wounds.

A third man, Renato Justiniano, who is believed to be one of the suspects was also brought to the hospital for treatment of stab wounds.

Superintendent Reynaldo Fernando, officer-in-charge of the Taguig Police said that the victims were engaged in a drinking spree at around 8 a.m. Sunday along Pigtain street when a heated argument suddenly broke out among the men.

A free-for-all ensued which resulted in the injury of the three victims while the suspects managed to escape. Recovered on the scene were an improvised knife, a kitchen knife and a bolo. In Las Pinas, a laborer also met his untimely death after an altercation with an old enemy.

Police identified the victim as Marlon Garamay, 24 of Real St., Talon 1, Las Pinas.

The body was discovered with an ice pick sticking out of his chest and a number of stab wounds and bruises all over his body.

One of the suspects was identified as John Alcantara who fled the scene after the incident. – Marvin Sy