Blue guard in ‘grenade show-off’ nabbed for frustrated murder raps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Members of San Enrique Police Station could thank the publicized arrest of a security guard who was caught with a hand grenade in his possession.

JM Lasara, who was earlier arrested for brandishing an M26 fragmentation grenade in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, has a pending arrest warrant with the Iloilo provincial police.

Senior Master Sergeant Cleo Basulgan, San Enrique police investigator, said they made several stakeouts against Lasara after his arrest warrant for frustrated murder was issued in 2019.

“Pero wala gid namon siya na-timing-an,” Basulgan said.

On Monday, four days after Lasara’s arrest, members of San Enrique PNP served the arrest warrant to the suspect who was detained at Iloilo City Police Station 5 in Mandurriao.

Judge Vicente Go of the Regional Trial Court RTC Branch 68 in Dumangas, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant against Lasara in Criminal Case No. 19-9291 (SE)

The 23-year-old security guard, a resident of Barangay Bontoc, Lambunao, Iloilo, was arrested for allegedly brandishing an explosive while at his friend’s boarding house at Zone 5, Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

An informant allegedly tipped off Staff Sergeant Michael John Itabag, a member of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) about Lasara keeping a hand grenade.

When Itabag and Corporal Parba arrived, they saw the suspect holding on to a sling bag on top of the table.

The cops waited for Lasara to take out the explosive from his bag before arresting him.

The ICPO Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Canine Unit later retrieved and secured the explosive.

Lasara was allegedly drunk during the incident.

He was charged for violation of Republic Act 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.