8 killed, including four children, killed in mortar blast

January 4, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Eight people, including four children, died while five were wounded in a mortar shell explosion in a remote area of Zamboanga del Norte, police reported on Thursday.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, regional police information officer, said the blast happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Washington, Barangay Guban, Sirawai.

The fatalities were Karding Antugon, 23; Toto Simbulaan, 15; Lloyd Simbulaan, seven; Baby Simbulaan, five; Jufer Simbulaan, 16; Junrey Sango, 18; and, Nardo Quimas.

Sango died while being treated at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) while Jufer was declared dead on arrival.

Three of the five wounded were Paul Simbulaan, 40; Arnel Malanao, 15; and, Joey Sandigon, 18. They are confined at the ZCMC.

Investigation showed  Antugon, an employee of Sirawai Plywood and Lumber Corporation, found a mortar shell at the side of the road and brought it to the employees’ quarters.

Antugon allegedly grabbed a stone and tinkered the mortar shell with it until it exploded, killing six of the eight fatalities.

Galvez said police of Sirawai town are investigating the incident. DMS