3 hurt in grenade blast at Manila precinct

MANILA, Philippines - Three men were wounded when a grenade lobbed at the Smokey Mountain police precinct in Manila went off before dawn yesterday.

Barangay tanod Serdan Damca, 40; scavenger Rene Gallarona; and pedicab driver Ferdie dela Cruz were rushed to Tondo Medical Hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds.

The three victims were near the precinct when a still unidentified person threw the grenade at about 2:25 a.m.

A Malabon City police car was also damaged in the explosion. No police officer was hurt.

Investigators are eyeing vengeance as a possible motive for the attack as it came hours after Manila police officers killed murder suspect Ramiro “Badjao” Nicolas in a shootout Wednesday morning.

Nicolas and his friend, John Mark Mendoza, were wanted for allegedly killing Fedy Genobisa, 27. Mendoza escaped during the shootout.