1 dead, 4 hurt in grenade blast

MANILA, Philippines — A man who reportedly invited his friends to a drinking session was killed when a grenade he was holding exploded in Makati City on Saturday night.

John Al Javier, 35, was declared dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Makati at around 11:23 p.m.

The explosion also left four of Javier’s friends wounded.

Junnie Boy Dizon, 36, was reported to be in critical condition while Ronnie Mamayabay, 38, and Jay Ar Ardeno, 34, were said to be in stable condition.

Police said Javier and a witness, Miguel Cruz, 57, were drinking at around 4:30 p.m. when the latter heard Javier tell his wife, Zenaida, to change her clothes before going to a neighbor to gamble.

Cruz told police he saw Javier get the grenade from a speaker near their house and hide it on his person.

Javier then asked Cruz to invite their friends Mamayabay, Ardeno and Dizon to drink.

Cruz said Javier asked if he would join him in “committing suicide or killing someone while holding an unknown type of grenade,” prompting the witness to try to leave Javier’s home, according to the police report.

Javier reportedly followed Cruz and tried to convince him to “join his plan,” but Cruz refused and left.

Police said Javier allegedly dropped the grenade.

Makati ordnance experts and forensice personnel recovered several pieces of metal shrapnel as well as severed body parts from the scene of the incident.