Grenade found in Molo church
A hand grenade was found near the fence of the Miraculous Parish Church in Zone 2, Brgy. Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City, the police said yesterday.
Tanod member Rodolfo Valiente, who discovered the apple-type hand grenade – an M67 – said the explosive was placed inside a dextrose container.
Together with PO3 Rodofo Palomar, Valiente secured the area before the arrival of the members of the Iloilo City Police Office Explosives and Ordnance Division.
PO2 Virgil Silva of the ICPO-EOD said such kind of grenade is not issued to members of the police force and is usually used by members of the military.
Silva said the grenade, although not new, still has the capacity to explode once its pin and safety lever is pulled.
“It’s still an explosive. It’s like the one that exploded at Sgt. Managuit,” he said.
SPO3 Rafael Managuit, a veteran member of the ICPO-EOD, was killed when a grenade accidentally exploded inside their office in March last year.
Silva said the grenade must have been in the possession of someone who has a relative connected with the military.
“Maybe, they were just afraid to surrender it, out of fear that they could be held liable for possessing an explosive,” he said.
