Grenade explosion that wounded 47 people during post-Bar Exam at DLSU

MANILA, Philippines - A grenade was used in the explosion that wounded 47 people during a post-Bar exam revelry outside the De La Salle University along Taft Avenue Sunday afternoon, the Manila Police District (MPD) said yesterday.

MPD Explosives and Ordnance Division head Chief Inspector Oliver Navales reported that the post-blast investigation showed that an MK-2 fragmentation grenade exploded at the site.

Investigators recovered pieces of metal fragments, broken parts of a fuse assembly, safety lever, striker spring and striker from a grenade at the scene of the explosion, the report stated.

A witness said prior to the explosion, he had observed a man who pulled out a grenade from a paper bag and rolled it on the ground where Alpha Phi Omega and Tau Gamma Phi fraternity and sorority members were celebrating.

As soon as the man left, an explosion happened, according to the witness.

MPD officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said a witness identified the alleged grenade thrower as Jed Carlos Lazaga, a fourth year law student at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu and a member of Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho).

Lazaga’s identity was established through his voter’s identification card and a school class schedule that was recovered from his wallet, recovered near the blast site.

The witness said he and other fraternity members ganged up on the grenade thrower, removing the shades and handkerchief covering his face.

He said another man wearing an Akrho T-shirt and holding a gun threatened to shoot them if they did not release the suspected grenade thrower.

The witness said the suspect’s wallet fell from his pants pocket during the commotion, and they found his voter’s ID and school class schedule.

Malate police station commander Superintendent Francisco Gabriel told The STAR Lazaga later went to the police station after the explosion and reported that he lost his wallet after some fraternity members beat him up.

Lazaga reportedly filed a complaint against the unidentified men who attacked him.

“I had to let him go after he filed the complaint since there was no complainant yet pointing to him as the alleged grenade thrower at that time,” Gabriel said.

He said now that a witness had identified Lazaga as the alleged grenade thrower, police could arrest him when he returns to Cebu.

Victim’s leg amputated

The injured victims were mostly law students from San Beda College and other law schools that were holding a traditional street revelry to mark the end of the last day of the Bar examinations.

MPD’s public information officer, Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, said the victim with the most serious injury was identified as Joanna Ledda, a student of San Beda College and a member of the Alpha Phi Beta sorority. She sustained shrapnel wounds and her right leg was amputated at the Ospital ng Maynila.

Police said 14 other injured victims were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila, nine were treated at the Philippine General Hospital, four were rushed to the Medical Center Manila, seven were treated at the Manila Doctors Hospital, 10 at Manila Adventist Medical and two others were brought to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

Gabriel, who was near the DLSU campus when the explosion occurred, said the blast was hardly heard because of the noise of the celebrating students.

Margarejo said witnesses heard some persons cheering “Akrho, Akrho” after the explosion.

A member of Tau Gamma Phi, who requested anonymity, denied reports that his fraternity had something to do with the explosion.

“Some of the wounded were Tau Gamma members. No person in his right mind will inflict injury to his brothers and sisters,” he said.

Officials’ response

Rongavilla created yesterday the Special Investigation Task Group “Bar Operations 2010” and named Gabriel as its head.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday directed Rongavilla to drop everything and focus on identifying and arresting the suspects of the bombing at DLSU.

Lim also called on the public to help the police catch the suspects by giving information.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court condemned the perpetrators of the explosion that marred the conclusion of this year’s Bar exams.

Chief Justice Renato Corona has directed the SC security office, MPD and National Bureau of Investigation to identify and “bring to the bar of justice” the perpetrators of what he described as “senseless act of cowardice.”

Court Administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the High Court would review its guidelines for the Bar exams as well as traditional practices during the annual event.

He said the Chief Justice wants security arrangements in the periphery of the venue of the exams to be also covered by protocol “to prevent occurrence of similar incidents.”

Marquez said if the perpetrators “are really law students, they could be denied a certificate of good moral character, which is a requirement for graduation. That means they will not become lawyers. This is beside the possible criminal charges.”

Marquez said the SC has already coordinated with the police and submitted to investigators a video of the incident and statements of some eyewitnesses, who have identified three persons as alleged perpetrators.

He refused to give more details, but hinted that the perpetrators “appear to be law students.”

Asked if the hospitalization of the victims would be shouldered by the High Court in the middle of its fight to get a bigger budget for next year, Marquez replied: “We will check on that.” – With Edu Punay - By Nestor Etolle and Sandy Araneta (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)