DAVAO CITY — Three minors died after throwing into the fire an unexploded M203 grenade they found at Purok 9 in Barangay Daliaon Plantation, Toril District on Sunday afternoon.
In a police report released Monday, Chief Inspector Jerome De Guzman, the precinct commander of Toril police, identified the victims as Rain John Verano Alagenio, 15, student; Aljen Verano Alagenio, 13, student; both residents of Purok 5 of Daliaon; and, Julio Leoberos Limposanan, 17, a resident of Purok 9. Another minor was also injured whose identity has yet to be verified.
The victims reportedly found an M203 grenade inside their relatives’ farm in the area, burned and exploded.
The scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) also discovered another M203 grenade head and turned it over to the Explosive Ordnance Unit of Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
In an interview Monday, De Guzman said the barangay captain of Daliaon plantation had told them that an encounter between the New People’s Army (NPA) and soldiers happened months ago in the area. It could be possible that the grenade fell.
“So katong mga bala posible nakita sa mga bata ang sulti pila ka adlaw na nila nakita pero katong Dominggo lang gisugba (So those ammunition were possibly seen by the children but only burned it last Sunday),” he said. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)
Watch the full video report here: