By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A miner who smuggled a fragmentation grenade into the small-scale mining area in Gaang, Balbalan was killed along with two others when the explosive went off 5:30 PM of February 2.
According to the Balbalan police, Mike Calumnag, 23, married, and resident of Mabaca, Balbalan went to the bunkhouse of Bernard Banasan, 22, married, resident of Poblacion, Balbalan, Rolly Gacayon, 31, single, of Mabaca and Ronie Bayongan, 41, single, farmer and resident of Pantikian, Balbalan.
The four who were all miners were having dinner.
Calumnag who was allegedly under the influence of liquor took out a grenade and proceeded to play with it.
After a while, the grenade went off instantly killing Calumnag, Banasan and Gacayon and seriously injuring Bayongan.
Bayongan has been brought to a hospital in Baguio City.
Vice Governor Allen Jesse Mangaoang, former mayor of Balbalan and president of the Banao Bodong Association (BBA), said that the incident would not have happened had Calumnag complied with the policies of the association prohibiting bringing in liquor and deadly weapons into the mine site.
The BBA is the authority and owner of the mines.
Mangaoang said that the Mabaca subtribe to whom Calumnag belongs will now be sternly warned for not following the policies of the Gaang mine site.
Mangaoang said that Mabaca is one of 11 barangays in the entire municipality who only has 40 slots in the mine site. These 11 barangays are referred to as privileged.
On the other hand, the three barangays in the Banao ancestral domain namely Talalang, Balbalasang and Pantikian could send all their menfolk to work in the mines.**
