CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Unidentifed suspects lobbed a grenade on the ancestral house of Deputy House Speaker Rufus Rodriguez early Wednesday morning, the police said.
Rodriguez, the representative of Cagayan de Oro’s Second Congressional district, was not in the house when the incident took place about 1:15 Wednesday morning.
He younger sister, City Councilor Jocelyn Rodriguez told Mindanao Daily that Deputy House Speaker Rufus Rodriguez returned to Manila Saturday after turning over various infrastructure project’s in the city.
She said that Rep. Rodriguez stays in the ancestral house in Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City whenever he is in Cagayan de Oro City.
The City Councilor said that they have no idea on who lobbed the grenade and the possible motive, but were relieved when the ordnance did not explode.
“The grenade threat was the first we engaged in politics. However, we are not discounting the possibility that the incident was politically motivated,” Rodriguez said.
Police investigators are examining the closed circuit television cameras (cctv) that recorded two riding tandem suspects on a motorcycle.
Police were hoping that the cctv footage could lead to the identity of the ownership of the motorcycle and the iddntities of the riding suspects.
Maj. Ivan Viñas, of the Cagayan ds Oro City Police, said that the grenade, an Mk-2 type, was a very powerful explosive.
An alert security guard reported the incident to the police after he noticed that the object thrown toward the Rodriguez residence turned out to be a hand grenade.
Rep Rodriguez announced early last week that he is running for Mayor in the 2022 elections against 2nd District Rep Rolando Klares Uy, and Pompee Lavina, currently the Phevidec administrator, Lavina for mayor ran in the previous elections but lost to incumbent Oscar Moreno.
In a statement released today by the congressman, he condemned in the strongest possible terms the evil plans of the suspects and whoever masterminded it.
He said his family was put at risk of the grenade attack aimed at scaring them.
“Lives were put at risk in the grenade attack at the ancestral residence of the Rodriguez family in Barangay Nazareth in Cagayan de Oro earlier today. We condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence by unknown means, House deputy speaker Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the police are now conducting investigations, and justice will be served against those responsible for the crime.
The congressman announced that his family is safe and no one is harmed in the incident.
Cong Rodriguez and City Councilor Jocelyn Rodriguez assured the public that all the services offered by their respective offices are ongoing and unhampered amid the dangerous threats to their lives.
On their official Facebook account, messages of concerns, and prayers for the safety of the family flooded the pages.
Former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Officer regional director Manny Darimbang said the bomb intended to scare the Rodriguez family should be properly investigated by the police.
“The authorities must see to it that whoever did this must be brought to justice. This act must be condemned. Keep safe everyone!,” Darimbang said in his message to the Rodriguez family.
Traffic Czar Jose Edgardo Uy also sent his message of support for the family to stay safe
“Whoever did it should be brought to justice. Keep safe Rodriguez family,” Uy said in his FB message. -0-.
