A grenade exploded in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), Muntinlupa City at about 5:55 a.m. the other day, resulting to six injured inmates identified by Superintendent Conrad Capa as Eddie Boy Joson, Galvas Lastimoso, Jerick Piogino, Nilo Garin, Reynaldo Montemayor, and Romy Franco. Injured inmates were rushed to the NBP hospital for immediate medical treatment.
According to gathered reports, NBP inmates were jogging in the maximum security compound when another inmate tossed a grenade, which initially hit one of the joggers. The explosive went off across the Alternative Learning System Building after bouncing toward the concrete benches. Visiting rights along with other privileges were suspended by the NBP administration on the day of the blast.
Ramon Reyes, NBP Superintendent, suggested that the grenade attack might have been an unfortunate gang war aftermath. He also claimed that the suspect appeared to be behind the joggers based on the CCTV footage.
Superintendent Reyes also said that Justice Secretary Leila De Lima was curious how the grenade came into the possession of an inmate. Moreover, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III said that the National Bureau of Investigation will conduct a parallel investigation on the said incident.
Not that long after the NBP blast, an improvised explosive device (IED) shook Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat on or about 7:30 a.m. amidst the celebration of Kalimudan Festival which will be concluded on November 22, according to Senior Superintendent Rolen Balquin, police director of Sultan Kudarat.
Various sources also reported that Senior Superintendent Balquin added that no one was hurt when the IED exploded along the National Highway. Consequently, the explosion site was only a kilometer away from the Genalyn Resort owned by Governor Esmael Mangudadatu.
Governor Mangudadatu was suspecting that he might be the target of the bombing. He cited an intelligence report dated November 13 about an attack against him and the Maguindanao Massacre’s third anniversary. The explosion site is located along the road frequented by the governor in exploring Maguindanao and Cotabato areas.
It was in August last year when a bomb exploded along the National Highway while the convoy of Governor Mangudadatu was passing by resulting to eight casualties – two dead and six injured.
Meanwhile, the suspected bomber, Abdulrahman Usman, also known as Teng Usman, of Barangay Kudal, Pagalungan, Maguindanao, was arrested for tactical interrogation in the hopes of uncovering the identities of his companions.
Based on the initial police interrogation, Tacurong Police Chief Superintendent Gilbert Tuazon revealed that Usman is affiliated with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) founded by Ameril Umbra Kato of Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s 105th Base Command.
Meanwhile, another IED was recovered in another part of the city before a blast could occur.
Sultan Kudarat has been commonplace to explosives. A grenade exploded in the public market of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat on November 7. Inspector Jan Albert Rongavilla reported that two suspects pitched the grenade in the stall owned by Rasul Delna and blew up the place causing injuries to the store owner and three other bystanders namely Ruby Subang, Sanga Buisan and a certain Lala.
