HOUSE of Representatives Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez said the grenade attack in front of his ancestral residence early Wednesday morning, September 29, 2021, is possibly related to his decision to consider running as mayor of the city in the 2022 election.
“Posible lang nga kani mao na’y gitawag nga election-related incident, tungod kay ni-announce man gud ta nga nikonsiderar kita pagdagan pagka-mayor,” Rodriguez said in a radio interview Wednesday, September 29.
However, speculations should not be made while there is no evidence yet, he added.
The incident occurred in front of the Rodriguez family’s ancestral residence in Barangay Nazareth in Cagayan de Oro City around 1 a.m.
According to Rodriguez, motorcycles were heard and seen after the grenade was thrown. The grenade did not explode and no one was hurt.
“Duha ka motorsiklo ang nadunggan ug nakit-an nga niharurot pagkahuman pagkalabay niining granada. Duha ni ka tao, nagsakay sa duha ka motorsiklo,” Rodriguez said.
The lawmaker said in his 18 years as a public servant, it was the first time an incident involving a grenade happened to him.
“Eighteen years ang atong public service, wala pa nisukad nga makadawat og mga hulga, wala man sukad nga labayan og granada atong panimalay,” Rodriguez said.
He further said he already talked with the police chief of Cagayan de Oro to investigate the incident.
“Ang ato, dili man ta maka-ispekulasyon kay wala pa man tay ebidensya. Ako ning itugyat sa kapulisan pagka imbestigar niining nahitabo,” Rodriguez said.
“Naay nakuha sa CCTV (closed-circuit television) [camera] nato kaning mga nisakay sa motor. Tan-awon gyud nga kinsa man gyud ani ang naglabay og granada ug kinsa man nagsugo nila,” he added.
The lawmaker assured the public that the incident did not move him into stopping his duties as a public servant.
“Wala gyud ta matandog niini kay kung monerbisyo ta sa atong katawhan, naa gyud posibilidad nga mahitabo kini. Ang ato gyud nga magpadayon kita sa atong pagserbisyo, Rodriguez said.
