Grenade lobbed at Treñas-owned resto
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas saw no other reason except political harassment behind the grenade-throwing incident at his family-owned bakeshop and restaurant early morning of yesterday at Brgy. Dungon-A, Jaro, Iloilo City.
At around 2:40 a.m., a grenade ripped through the glass panel, cemented wall, and one of the two doors of Carlo’s Bakeshop and Restaurant, which is adjacent to the mayor’s house.
It also injured duty security guard Carlo Ganancial, 29, of Auto Responsibility Agency and resident of Brgy. Pandac, Pavia, Iloilo.
He sustained shrapnel wounds on the right side of his stomach and was brought to West Visayas State University Medical Center.
According to Brgy. Capt. Genoveva Cabulong, she was about to sleep after coming from the Iloilo Fishing Port when she heard the loud explosion.
Cabulong immediately got up from bed and proceeded to the restaurant.
She then saw the stunned security guard.
“Ginpamangkot ko siya, ang hambal niya lang nga nay naglupok,” Cabulong narrated. She added to then physically checked Ganancial and saw blood from the right side of his stomach.
Cabulong then rushed the wounded guard to the hospital.
Meanwhile, a female eyewitness claimed to have seen two-motorcycle riding men after the incident.
“Pagkatapos sang lupok, nakita ko na ang motor . Dasig ang iya padalagan pakadto sa Brgy. Sambag, Jaro,” she added.
But since the incident happened fast and she was at a distance, the witness claimed to have not taken a closer glimpse on the suspects and their vehicle
Meanwhile, Jaro police investigators turned over evidences to the PNP Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) for identification what typed of grenade was used.
A safety liver was also recovered near the crime scene.
SAD DAY
It was only at around 4:00 in the morning when Treñas knew what happened.
He claimed that the loud explosion failed to wake him up.
The mayor’s private security personnel also did not rouse him from sleep after the incident.
He learned about what happened to their establishment after he got a call from a person whom he did not name.
“What happened is political harassment. Kay ‘ti wala naman iban nga rason. Ano pa abi?!” Treñas quipped.
Further, he added, “subong nga adlaw ang pinakamasubo nga adlaw sa syudad. Indi manami gid ‘ya ang natabo subong nga adlaw.”
DISAPPOINTED
Treñas could not also hide his disappointment about what happened.
He claimed that he has been reporting the threats against him to the police authorities.
However, “ang mga pulis, daw wala man nagapati nga may threat,” he added.
Again, he called on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to place Iloilo City under COMELEC control because of the apparent inaction of the PNP.
“Depende na sa kapulisan naton kag sa COMELEC kung gusto nila nga may mapatay gid,” Treñas said.
Last January, the city’s chief executive also called on for Iloilo City to be placed under COMELEC control after a policeman allegedly harassed his four children while the latter was giving relief goods among fire victims at Brgy. Nabitasan, La Paz, district.
More than a week ago, Treñas also reported that motorcycle-riding men fired near his house.
He deemed it was meant to harass him.
On several occasions, the mayor also reported that he received several threats through text messages.
Last February 1, suspected members of Acetylene Gang also robbed the pawnshop owned by Treñas’s wife, Rosalie, along E. Lopez St., Brgy. Fatima, Jaro, Iloilo City.
R. Sarabia Pawnshop lost assorted jewelries with pawned value of P400,000 and cash estimated at P23,000.
