Grenade lobbed at DAR office in Bacolod City

By Ronron
January 24, 2008

A grenade explosion rocked the office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bacolod City before dawn Thursday, police said.

City Police Director Sr. Supt. Ronilo Quebrar said in a phone interview that the incident happened at around 1:50 am yesterday inside the compound of the provincial office of DAR along Dawis San Sebastian Street in Barangay 14.

Quebrar said two men aboard a motorcycle threw the grenade, which blew off some five meters away from the main DAR building or about three meters away from the gate.

The incident left no casualties even if the security guard of the office and around 10 farmers who were holding a vigil-rally immediately outside the gate were present at the time of the blast.

Minor damages, however, were left on the wall, gate and glass door of the office.

Quebrar said the two suspects were wearing ball caps and sunglasses, and immediately sped off after the incident.

The official said the safety lever of the grenade was recovered by policemen.

“This incident could be related to an ongoing land dispute in the northern town of Pontevedra that is now being handled by that office… Our investigation is leading towards that direction,” Quebrar said when asked of the motive of the incident.

“It may be intended to harass DAR officials,” he added.

Quebrar said the provincial DAR officials have claimed that there was no direct threat to them prior to the incident./DMS