By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondent
AT times when there are threats to lives and properties, people should be cautious and keep their distance, Camp Alagar said over the weekend.
Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan, police director for northern Mindanao, said individuals must stay away from harm’s way if they see that their lives are in danger.
Anduyan was referring to students and other bystanders who were injured when a grenade held by a man went off inside the Initao Community College campus in Barangay Jampason, Initao town, Misamis Oriental, Thursday morning.
In that incident, two persons, one of them a police officer, were killed while at least 17 others were wounded.
“People must distance themselves from situations where they could be hurt or killed,” Anduyan told reporters Thursday afternoon.
“For their safety, they must keep their distance, and let the experts handle the situation,” he added.
According to a police report, one Ibrahim Basir from Lanao del Sur, had created a scene at the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Jampason as he tried to negotiate for the release of his truck and lumber that were confiscated.
Basir, witnesses said, was seen carrying a grenade, with the safety pin removed, inside the Initao College, near the DENR office.
“He started to get unruly while inside the office of the DENR prompting the personnel of that office to flee. He went outside and that was where the grenade exploded,” she added.
Velarde said the DENR and the Initao College are just a walking distance from each other.
Capt. Princess Joy Velarde, Misamis Oriental Provincial Police information officer, said Basher and Magno were killed moments after the grenade went off.
Anduyan called Magno a “hero” for what he did. “He (Magno) had the instinct to save people,” he said.
A statement released by the provincial police said Magno “sacrificed himself to save more lives… Magno used his body to prevent the impact of the blast and protect others from sustaining injuries.
“His bravery and courage will never be forgotten,” the statement said.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
