Grenade blast rocks Iloilo hotel

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  – A grenade exploded at a hotel owned by a newspaper publisher in Barangay Sto. Rosario in this city yesterday morning.

Police said two men riding a red motorcycle lobbed an MK2 hand grenade at the Bali Hotel, which has yet to open. The explosion destroyed the hotel’s glass doors and walls, and damaged the stairs and concrete wall.

Investigators said the incident may be related to the Aug. 22 killing of Niel Jimena, a radio host in this city, and a known ally of hotel owner Rommel Ynion, publisher of The News Today and president of the Iloilo Press Club.

Mayor Jed Mabilog denied any involvement in both incidents. Jimena and Ynion had been critical of Mabilog’s administration.

City police chief Marietto Valerio said the explosion could be related to a shot fired at Ynion’s house last Aug. 29. No suspects were identified.

Valerio said he is not ruling out the possibility that the grenade attack was staged.