Grenade explodes in rob gang’s safehouse; 1 dead

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged member of a robbery and kidnap group died in a grenade explosion at the gang’s purported safehouse in Deparo, Caloocan City Wednesday night.

Eddie dela Cruz was found hogtied in the bathroom of the bungalow by police officers after a neighbor called about the explosion, which occurred at past 8 p.m., said Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, chief investigator of the Caloocan police-north.

Dela Cruz was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but died while being treated, he added. Four others, including alleged gang leader Diosdado Alferez, were able to escape.

Perilla said there may have been a disagreement over the sharing of the loot, prompting someone to throw the grenade. He said the safehouse was located in the northernmost portion of the city.

“It’s difficult to find it if you don’t live here and are not familiar with the area,” he said, adding that the blast did not affect other houses.

Police officers recovered military uniforms, explosives, M-14 and M-16 rifles, ammunition, cars, and license plates from the safehouse.

Perilla said the members of the Alferez group, based in Mindanao, usually introduce themselves as soldiers when staging robberies. Investigators said the members of this group are allegedly part or former members of the Ozamis robbery gang, which has been linked to a series of high-profile heists in Metro Manila.