9 hurt in Cubao grenade blast; frat war eyed

MANILA, Philippines - Nine persons were hurt when a grenade was lobbed at a group enjoying a drinking session along a sidewalk in Cubao, Quezon City Friday night.

Inspector Arnulfo Franco, chief of the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said the incident happened at around 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Ermin Garcia and Notre Dame streets in Barangay Silangan.

Police Officer 3 Albert Lanuzo of the QCPD-Station 7 said victims Jerry Morta, 23; James Ramos, 19; Rexon Vitto, 17; Dave Santalicis, 20; Junel Obenario, 23; Monvien Dela Cruz, 21; Kimpee Necosia, 20; Reyhel Santos, 24; and Kurt Enrique Delaste, 13, sustained minor injuries. Village watchmen brought them to Quirino Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

The victims, except for Delaste, were drinking liquor with friends that night when two men drove up on a black Honda Wave motorcycle and lobbed a grenade at the group.

Delaste was passing by the area on his way home when the explosion happened. The suspects quickly fled the scene.

Senior Police Officer 1 Arvin Dimailig of the QCPD-EOD said that according to village officials, the grenade lobbing could be related to a reported scuffle between warring fraternities outside the nearby Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Lanuzo noted that the victims, except for Delaste, are students and alumni of TIP and Access Computer College.

“However, when we asked the companions of the victims… they denied their friends were members of a fraternity,” Dimailig said. ­– Reinir Padua