Koronadal man risks life, picks grenade in bus in Laguna

KORONADAL CITY - He only wanted to help. He wanted to save lives at his own riskand he succeeded.He is Dennis Domingo I, a former police officer now a businessman in Laguna. He does not want to publicized his simple action that really made a difference.Persons would have been killed, women and children would have been maimed but Domingo, one of the passengers of a bus heading to Cubao, Quezon Cityfrom Laguna, chose to risk his own life.It was August 30 this year when Domingo was heading to Manilaon boarda passenger bus at 3 p.m. when one of the passengers rolled a fragmentation grenade inside the bus as it entered Metropolis. I noticed the grenade, its pin almost falling off, as the bus was in motion, Domingo told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida in Koronadal City. Overcoming his fear, Domingo picked the hand grenade and directed the more than 30passengers to alight quickly.Domingo admitted he was chilling as he held the grenade to prevent its safety lever from falling and explode.For about an hour, Domingo was holding the grenade while waiting for bomb experts to arrive anddispose it safely. At one point, Domingo admitted his hands were almost ready to give up. But the safety of all and my safety was my priority, Domingo said, adding that his hands were already perspiring heavily and feared the ordnance might slip off his hands.He then asked anyone to bring in masking tape and wrap the explosives including his hands.Bomb experts arrived and safely deactivated the grenade as everybody applauded.For about 30 passengers and the drivers, Domingo was a hero. I just did the right thing at my own risk, he said in Filipino.A native of Koronadal, Domingo runs a business in Cabuyao, Laguna.Tarpauline lauding Domingo's heroics deed were displayed in Cabuyao.Domingo would have wanted to keep it under wraps but the people of Cabuyao rewarded him with message of thanks and spread his heroic acts in the social media.