CORDILLERA Police said the grenade explosion in La Paz town, Abra may have targeted the personalities on the stage at the town plaza.
Among those on stage at the time were Abra Representative Joseph Sto. Niño "JB" Bernos and wife La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos.
They were watching the fireworks display for the town's fiesta celebration when two grenades were hurled near the stage before dawn Thursday, January 25. Two policemen were killed while the Bernos couple and dozens more were injured.
Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Cordillera Police Regional Office chief, said they did not monitor any threat prior to the incident.
"Well, it appears na one of those in the stage is being targeted," Carranza said.
"’Yung pagkakabato po kasi ng granada ay sa tabi po ng entablado. Kung facing po the stage, the blast sites for both grenades were on the left side, one on the front of the grandstand and other one was on the rear left side,” he added.
He said they have yet to interview the Bernos couple to find out whether they are receiving threats.
The congressman earlier issued a statement, saying the bombing was "a personal attack" against him and his family.
Carranza said they were in the process of collating all the possible evidences and the statements of the witnesses which may lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
“Ang una po naming ginagawa is to identify the suspect and we are now on the conduct of getting all the statements of all the victims and the people present sa fireworks display. We are getting all statements and collating kung meron pong nakakuha ng mga video,” he said, adding that many of those who watched the fireworks display have captured the event.
Earlier, Governor Joy Bernos urged their constituents to remain calm expressing belief that the incident was not politically motivated and that it was just meant to disturb the upcoming Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet. (VoxPop Philippines)
