The three survivors in the grenade explosion in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, are now out of danger at the Vicente Gustilo District Hospital in Escalante City, police chief Mateo Maguate said yesterday.

The survivors have been identified as Merle Catipay, 35 and her two daughters, Marianne, 10, and Maryann, 12.

Two minor sons of Merle, Allan, 15 and Alano, 14, died on the spot when a fragmentation grenade they discovered in a canefield exploded in Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Maguate yesterday urged residents of Escalante to surrender or inform them of explosives that they may discover, or are in their possession.

Alano was tilling their corn farm in Sitio Sampinit 2, Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, when he unearthed the corroded MK-29 fragmentation grenade and played together with his elder brother, Allan, causing it to explode.

The Escalante police has not yet established who owns the grenade.

Maguate, however, said Sitio Sampinit 2 is among the hinterland areas in the boundary of Escalante and Toboso, being frequented by lawless elements.*GPB

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