6 wounded in Marikina blast

Six people were wounded when a fragmentation grenade exploded beside the tricycle they were riding in Marikina City Friday night.

Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Marikina City police chief identified the victims as Rafael Erfe, 45; his son Michael, 14; Mary Grace Azur, 45; Mario Basco, 26; Uldarico Coderias, 24, and Wenceslao Lapena, 45.

The Erfes are fighting for their lives while the other victims are being treated at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

Querol said the victims were on board a tricycle when occupants of a passenger jeepney driven by Jessie Sestorano lobbed a hand grenade in their direction along J. P. Rizal street at about 10:20 p.m.

The Erfes sustained multiple injuries. The suspects fled on foot.

Police have in their custody jeepney driver, Jessie Sestorano, 24, and Roel de Asis, 27.

Probers are taking their statements for the identification and arrest of the suspects, said Querol.

Meanwhile, the police arrested a drug dependent, who had just escaped from a drug rehabilitation center, for seriously injuring his wife and mother in Caloocan City yesterday.

Police identified the suspect as Vircelito Adviento, 37, jobless, and residing at 16 Reparo Street, Barangay Bagong Barrio.

The victims, Leticia, 36, and Virginia, 65, the mother of Adviento, now in the Intensive Care Unit, were both rushed to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital for severe head injuries.

Investigation showed that at about 9 a.m. Saturday, Adviento, who was high on drugs, resented his wife’s complaining about the loud music on the stereo. His refusal to heed his wife’s request led to an argument. One thing led to another, and soon the man got a piece of wood, a dos por dos, and hit her several times on the head until she lay on the floor unconscious.

The suspect’s mother, Virginia, who witnessed the beating, tried to pacify her son. The suspect, however, turned his ire on her and also pummeled her with blows to the head and body.

Neighbors, who pitted the victims, intervened and came to the rescue of the two unconscious victims.

Barangay officials later arrested the suspect and turned him over to the police. — Non Alquitran and Jerry Botial