2 die in Sta. Cruz police station grenade bombing
by Funny Pearl A. Gajunera and ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
A man who allegedly had a mental disorder was killed by police after he exploded a grenade inside the Sta. Cruz Municipal Police Station in Davao del Sur before noon yesterday.
The explosion killed a retired police officer and wounded four other police officers.
The fatalities were identified as Reynaldo Salang, 56, a resident of Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, and retired police officer David Bacon.
Wounded were retired police officer Noeh Casas, Senior Police Officer (PO)3 Rey Navarro, a certain PO3 Pantaleon, and a certain PO2 Taban.
Police said the incident occurred at around 11:55 a.m. yesterday.
According to reports, Salang was riding a bus from Bato, Santa Cruz going to Zone 4, Poblacion when he was seen by passengers carrying grenades when he alighted.
Salang, whom police said had a mental disorder, was apprehended after a short chase.
Police found four hand grenades, a .45 caliber pistol, and five live bullets in Salang’s possession.
When Salang confessed that he was still hiding two grenades, Bacon, who was a friend of the suspect’s, tried to negotiate with him.
Salang, however, suddenly threw a grenade, killing Bacon instantly and injuring the four others in the resulting explosion.
Police, believing Salang was still reaching for another grenade, shot the suspect dead.
The wounded were immediately brought to Digos Doctors Hospital and Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital for treatment.
Casas, who was heavily wounded, was transferred to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
Police said the case will go under investigation to see if lapses were committed during the operation.
