Operatives sift through the blast site at the Jaen public market. Contributed photo
JAEN, Nueva Ecija -An improvised explosive device exploded at the back of the public market in Barangay Don Mariano Marcos here at about 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said this was the second IED explosion, aside from the grenade–throwing incident on Saturday, since the controversy over the town’s mayorship started last December.
Jaen police chief Major Baltazar Corpuz said no one was hurt in the explosion as most of market stalls were already closed that time, adding that it could have been aimed at “sowing panic and fear among the populace.”
“Responding teams noticed some pieces of scattered suspected ammonium nitrate, orange PVC pipe, wires, keypad of cellular phone and its battery, nails used as enhancement to the said IED, and parts of washing machine timer in the blast site,” Baltazar said.
Investigation showed that the IED was placed beneath sacks of garbage and was wrapped in a plastic container to avoid detection.
Baltazar said operatives from the Nueva Ecija police’s explosive and ordnance division and crime laboratory office have inspected the blast site and pieces of evidence are now being processed.
Police have one eyewitness who is preparing his testimony, it was learned.
CCCTV cameras around area which are controlled at the municipal hall were not working at the time of the incident, police said.
The first IED explosion occurred at the gate of the municipal hall shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, days after the Regional Trial Court ruled that Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel won the May 2019 mayoralty race over Mayor Sylvia Austria.
Last Saturday, a grenade was lobbed in front of Austria’s residence in Barangay San Josef Navao.
