2 women die, 2 others hurt in New Year's explosion

MAMBUSAO, CAPIZ ,Philippines  — A pregnant woman and her aunt died and two of their companions were injured in an explosion of a grenade that was lobbed at their house in Barangay Libo-o of this town, an hour past midnight on January 1.

Inspector Leomindo Vipinoza, Mambusao Police chief, identified the victims as 8-month pregnant Rachel Marquez, 21, and her aunt, 23-year old Nerissa Labado, a resident of Brgy. Balat-an also of this town.

Injured were the 19-year-old sister of Marquez and their aunt, 52-year-old Maria Sangrones, who was also the house owner.

A certain Niña survived unscathed, as she was quite far from the center of the explosion, said Vipinoza, adding that the victims were already asleep when the perpetrators hurled a grenade at the house, below their sleeping area.

The explosion immediately roused their neighbors, who came to investigate and help. The victims were immediately brought to the Mambusao District Hospital but Marquez and Labado expired.

Vipinoza said investigators have been considering all angles of the incident but, this early though, the family already suspected that a pending case with a certain Lozada family could have something to do with the incident.

It was gathered that the 19-year-old sister of Marquez filed a rape case a few years back. The family of the suspect allegedly offered an out-of-court settlement but the Marquez’s family flatly refused it.

“According to the Marquez family, they have no other known enemy and could not think of any other reasons why a group of five women would be attacked for murder,” Vipinoza said.