Grenade explodes at lawyer's house

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An explosion broke out at 3 a.m. yesterday at the house of a lawyer, who has been known for handling high-profile drug cases in this city.

The 43-year-old lawyer Edeljulio Romero said he first head a loud explosion from the garage of his house in Brgy. San Jose South, Molo District, and initially he thought it was just pillbox lobbed at this property.

When he checked it later at around 8 am., he realized it was no ordinary explosion. The blast damaged the rear portion of his car and also punched a hole at a portion of his garage.

Responding policemen recovered a portion of an M203 grenade launcher and parts of a fragmentation grenade.

Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) chief, Sr. Supt. Marietto Valerio said Romero's neighbors claimed seeing two motorcycle-riding men before the explosion.

Romero however believed that the suspects just wanted to threaten him, and was not even keen on asking for police security. "Romero told us if the person really wanted to kill him, it would be easy," Valerio said.

For Romero, he saw no other angle behind the incident other than work-related. He tried his luck in politics and ran for city councilor in last year's national elections but lost.

He gained his prominence, though, after defending alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta and other drug-personalities. He is also known to have handled controversial murder and homicide cases.

But on the grenade-throwing at his house, Romero had a hunch that it could be related to a grenade-throwing incident he is now handling. On June 14, 2010, the house of a retired policeman was hurled with grenade at Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City. — THE FREEMAN