Cop dies, 12 hurt in PNP school explosion

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A 31-year-old member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) was killed while his 12 commando students were seriously wounded when a defective rifle grenade accidentally exploded during a shooting training in Silang, Cavite, Monday afternoon, police said.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, Calabarzon police director, identified the slain officer as PO2 Maño Rexel Carido, who died on arrival at the Adventis University of the Philippines Hospital in Barangay Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite. He sustained multiple shrapnel wounds on different part of the body.

Injured policemen were identified as Inspector Frederic Sa-ao, PO2 Joel Jose Cacal, PO2 Andy Boy Moya, PO1 Junjun Paray, PO1 Dennis Labrador, PO1 Jacky Quirod, PO1 Dennis Aldueza, PO1 Melchor Moizes, PO1 Ronaldo Antonio, PO1 Gerald Alusta, PO1 Paulino Doyola and PO1 Robert Tabijoria.

According to report, SAF instructor Carido together with his students were conducting a live firing exercise of M-203 grenade launcher in the academy’s firing range in Barangay Tartaria when the incident happened around 4:30 p.m.

Senior Superintendent Hernando Zafra, Cavite police director said Carido was declared dead on arrival at the AUP Hospital while the other victims were treated after sustaining shrapnel wounds in different parts of the body.

For his part, SAF director Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago Jr. described the incident as a “freak accident” that nobody wanted. He said there could be a “material flaw” that caused the accident.

Santiago ordered for immediate investigation of the incident and instructed SAF personnel to refrain from using their issued rifle grenades pending the result of the investigation. – Ed Amoroso, Arnell Ozaeta and Cecille Suerte Felipe