BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
Police are investigating two grenade-throwing incidents in Bangued, Abra, one of which targeted the vehicle of Vice Governor Joy Bernos.
Residents of Barangay Ubbog Lipcan were alarmed when a man on a motorcycle threw a grenade near a parked vehicle around 8:15 p.m. on March 10.
According to Police Regional Office Cordillera spokesperson Lt. Col. Carolina Lacuata, responding officers found a safety lever from a hand grenade near a gas station and an auto supply store. Further investigation led them to an unexploded fragmentation grenade under a white Toyota Fortuner, which reportedly belongs to Vice Governor Bernos.
The police immediately cordoned off the area to ensure the grenade’s safe removal. Fortunately, Bernos was not inside the vehicle when the incident occurred.
In a Facebook post, Bernos shared a photo of the suspected perpetrator and vowed to continue fighting for peace, respect, and freedom. She also took a jab at local governance, questioning the value of infrastructure development if public safety remains uncertain.
Bernos is currently seeking re-election for a second term. Authorities are still determining whether the attack can be classified as an election-related incident.
“This is still being investigated as a suspected election-related incident,” Lacuata said.
Meanwhile, police are also probing another grenade-throwing incident at a bank in Barangay Zone 5, Bangued, around 12:30 a.m. on the same day. The grenade did not explode but shattered the bank’s glass doors.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing.
