Explosion rocks La Union town, no one hurt

By Ronron
May 24, 2007

An explosion rocked the town of Agoo in La Union province before dawn of Thursday, the provincial police commander said.

Sr. Supt. Franklin Jesus Bucayu said the blast, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), happened at around 1:15 am in front of the Southern La Union Gravel and Sand and General Merchandise in Barangay Sta. Barbara.

There were no damages or casualties reported in the incident.

The business establishment is owned by a certain Ronie Baldemor, and is located two to three houses away from the residence of outgoing Agoo Mayor Eufranio Eriguel, Bucayu said.

“The motive is still undetermined, although Baldemor is a close supporter of Mayor Eriguel,” Bucayu said when asked if the incident is business-related or politically charged.

The police official could not also say yet if the target of the blast is really Baldemor’s business establishment or the residence of Eriguel, whose wife, Sandra, won the May 14 polls for the mayoralty post.

Asked if Baldemor has received any threats to his life, Bucayu said: “I don’t know yet.”

Bucayu said a “balut” vendor saw three men aboard a motorcycle in front of the establishment shortly before the explosion.

Bucayu said plastic debris recovered from the blast site indicate initially that the IED could have been made up gasoline contained in a plastic bottle for mineral water./DMS