Peace officer hurt in blast

SANTIAGO CITY, Philippines – A peace officer in the Cordillera Administrative Region was wounded after a grenade exploded inside the compound of the Army headquarters in Gamu, Isabela yesterday morning.

Felipe Cariño, the vice chairman of Cordillera Forum for Peace and Development Inc. (CFPDI), suffered injuries in the feet and was rushed to the 5th Infantry Division Station Hospital for treatment.

Cariño’s group is pushing for the integration of former members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) into the Armed Forces.

The victim was in a Mitsubishi van along with six others, when the grenade exploded under the vehicle.

The other passengers, including the driver, were unhurt.

Lt. Rowena Abayon, of the Army’s 5th ID’s public affairs office, said the incident occurred near the building of the Philippine Army Assistance for Rural Advancement on Literacy at about 9:45 a.m.

Officials said the incident was an isolated case and would not stop the opening of the candidate soldier course class for CPLA integrees tomorrow.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and ranking Army officials were expected to attend the event. – Charlie Lagasca, Alexis Romero