Farmer runs amok, gets killed by grenade

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A militiaman who was wounded after trying to stop an unruly rubber farmer from firing his gun indiscriminately threw a grenade that killed the gun wielder and injured four others Thursday night in a village of Siay town, Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The police identified the lone fatality in the grenade explosion as Tito Jalaron Urban, 54, rubber farmer, while those injured were Juliet Ramos Urbano, 50 years old, housekeeper; Dolsito Abapo Andos, 50 years old, farmer, sustain injuries on his right arm; Johny Sanches Andos, 39 years old, married, farmer, sustain injuries on his right arm; and Vevencio Aguilar Paster, 52 years old, married, farmer sustained injuries on his right leg, all residents of Barangay Labasan. 

The suspect in the explosion was identified as Nelson Sanches Andos, 37, married, a member of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary, according to Police Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, public information chief of Police Regional Office 9. 

Samuddin said police investigation disclosed that the suspect responded to pacify his neighbor Urbano who was then firing his gun indiscriminately about 7:20 p.m. Thursday. 

However, the two ended up in heated argument with Urbano shooting Andos on his left lower shoulder and right arm.

The police said Andos went home and returned with a fragmentation grenade that he lobbed toward Urbano, exploding and killing him.

The injured victims were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Responding police subsequently arrested the suspect in the grenade explosion and brought him also to the hospital for treatment while under tight guard.