The motives for the throwing of a fragmentation grenade at the ancestral house of Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano in Silay City Saturday that are being looked into by the police, include the implementation of reforms and insurgency.

However, no one was hurt in the explosion, and only minor damages were seen on the old car parked at the garage and jalousies of the windows at the driver's and maid quarters, which were broken, police said.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday said Montelibano may have stepped on some people in the implementation of reforms in the Silay City government.

Dislocation of fish vendors, increase in market rentals, neglect of small farmers in the countryside, were among the complaints aired against the administration of Montelibano, seven months after he assumed as mayor of Silay.

Franco said he has ordered the Intelligence Branch of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office to assist the Silay police in an in-depth investigation on the motive behind the grenade-throwing incident.

Montelibano said he is taking the blast in stride and as part of Silay's growing pains. “It will not deter investors from coming to Silay,” he stressed.

Police investigations showed one of the two suspects who were wearing black T-shirts with bull caps and riding on a motorcycle, lobbed a fragmentation grenade, and immediately fled.

Acting Governor Isidro Zayco yesterday said he strongly condemns the grenade blast at the Montelibano residence.

“We cannot say if the move was politically-motivated until a thorough police investigation is completed,” Zayco added.

He, however, said he does not believe the blast will affect investor's confidence in Silay City .

Acting Vice Governor Dino Yulo also called on the police to expedite their investigations, whether politically-motivated or not.

Franco said he is now following up his request from the Police Regional Office 6 for the release of additional 20 policemen to the Silay police force, which will be downloaded from the 6 th Regional Mobile Group.

He clarified that the augmentation of the Silay police with 20 more new policemen, was requested before the Silay airport began the operation.

Supt. Roderick Augustos Alba, Silay police chief, said there has been no development in their investigation, as they are still gathering affidavits from Montelibano's workers.*GPB

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