Authorities arrested a 32-year-old miner Monday morning following an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at a snack shop along Magsaysay Avenue that left 14 people injured.
Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) personnel apprehended the suspect, a resident of Itogon, shortly after the explosion occurred.
The blast was reported early Monday after a witness alerted a police fixed visibility point at Upper Magsaysay.
Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect was intoxicated and had allegedly committed acts of lascivious conduct against the shop’s caretaker earlier in the day.
After being mauled by bystanders in response to his actions, the suspect reportedly returned to the establishment and threw a plastic container filled with black powder, triggering the explosion.
“This incident highlights the critical role of prompt police action and community cooperation in maintaining public safety,” said P/Col Ruel Tagel, BCPO city director.
At least ten individuals are still being treated at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, where nine remain under observation while four individuals were treated and discharged from Pines City Doctors Hospital.
Responding units secured the scene and coordinated with specialized forensic teams to process the evidence. The suspect remains in police custody and faces multiple criminal charges, including frustrated murder and illegal possession of explosives.
The BCPO continues to investigate the origin of the explosive materials. NLMonitor