Grenade hurled at mayor’s house; one dead, three hurt

By Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Motorcycle-riding men hurled a grenade at the residence of a municipal mayor, killing an employee and wounding three others in this city night of Dec. 3.

Medrano Pilic, 30, died at the scene, according to Tuguegarao police chief Supt. Jessie Tamayao.

Pilic was a cook of Mayor Leonardo Dangoy of Conner town in Apayao, whose son Leomar, 31; grandchild Ayessa, 9, and nephew Fritz Derick Cortel, 20, were wounded in the attack.

The three were taken to a hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds.

Dangoy said the attack occurred at around 7:30 p.m. as he and his family were having dinner at their residence on Caronan street, Barangay Caritan Norte.

He said that night, all barangay chairmen and municipal officials of Conner were supposed to gather at his house.

He said the group was supposed to go to Calanasan town in Apayao to attend the first death anniversary celebration of the late governor Elias Bulut Sr.

“Luckily my officers did not arrive early, otherwise more would have been hurt,” Dangoy said.

He said they heard something hard hit the roof of the kitchen and fall to the ground.

The mayor said Pilic went out to check and an explosion was heard a few minutes later.

Witnesses said they saw two men on a motorcycle fire their guns after the explosion.

Conner police chief Senior Inspector Gary Gayamos ordered his men to secure the mayor and his family.

Dangoy, who is on his final term, said he has no known enemy.

Police have yet to determine if the attack was politically motivated.