‘Grenade-wielding’ man killed in drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Questions surround the death of a man who allegedly possessed a grenade during a police anti-narcotics operation late evening of June 29 at Molo, Iloilo City.

But the fatality, 29-year-old Karl Daniel Bolante, was not a target or part of the operation that aimed to catch John Dave Mendoza alias “Stone Cold,” 23, a resident of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala 2, City Proper district.

Still, Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, Iloilo City Police Station 1 chief, said Bolante may not be that innocent at all, claiming that he knew the suspect.

“He tried to obstruct our police operation because he and Mendoza are friends,” Sangrines claimed.

Sangrines said the operation started at City Proper area. But Mendoza changed the tradeoff venue after doubting his “customers.”

He decided to complete the deal at Barangay North Baluarte, Molo, the village where Bolante lived.

An ICPS1 report stated that “Mendoza resisted arrest and ran towards a secluded area. But when he was cornered by the operatives, his cohort Karl Daniel Bolante acted to throw a hand grenade to the PNP personnel, prompting them to shoot him.”

Sangrines said they received reports that Bolante and Mendoza went binge drinking with some friends prior to the buy-bust operation at Barangay North Baluarte.

“When our operatives were chasing Mendoza, Bolante was at the alley. It was not a coincidence that he was there,” she said.

Sangrines believed that Bolante planned to divert the cops’ attention so that Mendoza can escape.

Sangrines said police officers saw Bolante holding on to a hand grenade.

“It was the judgment call of our operatives to shoot him because their lives were also in danger,” she said.

Bolante was taken to Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Mendoza was subsequently cornered and arrested.

Recovered from the scene were three sachets of suspected shabu, P2,000 buy bust money, a live M26 hand grenade, and a revolver loaded with 5 ammunitions.

Sangrines said they are still investigating who owned the handgun.

As this developed, the Regional Internal Affairs Service will conduct a motu proprio (on its own) probe on the incident.

 

INNOCENT OR GUILTY?

Wrong place, wrong time?

A village official and Bolante’s family claimed that Bolante may have been mistaken as Mendoza’s cohort.

A CCTV footage was released showing that Bolante was walking with some friends when police operatives went past behind them.

The cops were apparently running after Mendoza.

They also denied that Bolante was included in Mendoza’s dealings.

The family also denied that the victim was armed with a grenade and handgun.

He was shirtless and was only wearing boxer shorts when the incident happened.

Barangay Captain Marites Morga of North Baliarte backed the family’s observation that Bolante may have been wrongly implicated in the buy-bust operation.

Morga said Bolante was on his way home after drinking liquor with some friends.

The CCTV also captured Mendoza resisting after his transaction with the police poseur buyers and ran to the alley where Bolante was also walking.

Bolante appeared rattled and ducked.

Morga said he was only holding on to his mobile phone.

Morga said Bolante was released from incarceration in March 2021 after he was caught sniffing rugby.

While he had his shares of misdemeanor, Bolante allegedly did not go back to his old ways, the village official added.

In fact, he was not on the BADAC (Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council) list of illegal drug personalities.

Meanwhile, Sangrines said that Mendoza had been arrested for an illegal drug offense when he was still a minor. He was later released on bail.

Mendoza was also the founder of SPERM (Strong People Real Men), a gang in Iloilo City.

Their group was implicated in a stabbing incident that happened in Esplanade years ago.