Town police chief, deputy slain in grenade attack

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – A municipal police chief of Bukidnon and his deputy were killed when a police officer, who failed a drug test, hurled grenades at the police station Monday night.

Senior Inspector Crisanto Molina, chief of Kabanglasan police station, died at the scene while his deputy, Inspector Dexter Garcia, was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital due to shrapnel and bullet wounds, said Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office 10.

A civilian aide, Mariel Taduay, was wounded in the attack that was allegedly perpetrated by Police Officer 1 Gorospe Kayro.

Kayro, who failed a random drug test last month, was disarmed a few days before the attack, Cruz said.

Molina and Garcia were having dinner at the pantry when Kayro reportedly hurled two grenades at the police station.

Garcia managed to run, but the suspect reportedly chased and shot at him.

Kayro escaped on a motorcycle, which was later found abandoned in Purok 8, Barangay Poblacion.

It was not known where Kayro got the grenades and the firearm he used in the attack. A manhunt has been launched for the suspect.