Pentagon bombs trader's house

PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato, Philippines – Suspected members of the Pentagon kidnapping gang bombed the residential compound of a local trader killed in a bungled kidnapping here last week.

Chief Inspector Abello Jungaya, Pigcawayan police chief, said two motorcycle-riding men pulled over at the frontyard of slain trader Arnel Tamayo, hurled grenades and hurriedly left.

“No one was hurt in the attack, which damaged a car parked in the compound,” Jungaya said.

He said investigators are convinced the bombing was perpetrated by cohorts of the kidnappers who snatched Tamayo’s 10-year-old daughter last week.

The kidnappers were to seize Tamayo and his daughter, but instead gunned him down when he resisted.

Responding policemen and members of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion managed to rescue Tamayo’s daughter as the kidnappers tried to bring her to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

One of the kidnappers was killed in the rescue operation while another was arrested.

“The bombing of the residential compound of the Tamayo family could be in retaliation for the foiled attempt to kidnap two family members that also led to the death of one of the kidnappers and the arrest of another,” Jungaya said.