Grenade thrown, folks hurt; polls ‘generally peaceful’ in Cagayan

By Vince Jacob Visaya

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The May 9 elections in Cagayan Valley was described by election and police officials as "generally peaceful" except for reports such as a grenade-throwing incident on May 8 which injured workers.
    Lawyer Julius Torres, Cagayan Valley regional election supervisor, described the voting as "generally peaceful" except for eight reported defective machines in Isabela.
    The ballot of Glenda Gregorio was not read in Cauayan City four times.
    As a result, the ballot was set aside and was declared misread.
    Lawyer Jerbee Anthony Cortez, assistant regional election supervisor and Cauayan City acting supervisor, said the ballot will not be counted unless a protest is lodged.
    A day before the elections, a hand grenade was lobbed at a group of village workers in Lallayug, Tuao, Cagayan, on May 8 at 10 p.m., police said on Monday.
    Capt. Isabelita Gano, Cagayan police spokesman, said village councilor Hermogenes Gannaban and watchmen Honorato Tangaro and Domingo Sanchez were manning an outpost in front of the village hall when one of two motorcycle-riding gunmen arrived, lobbed a grenade and fled.
    The victims suffered shrapnel wounds and were brought to the Tuao District Hospital.
    A follow-up investigation identified the driver as Paolo Doctor of Bagumbayan, Tuao, Cagayan.
    His back rider who lobbed the grenade was unidentified. The suspects are still at large.