On March 10, 1947 – target of a grenade attack was Manuel A. Roxas I, Mar Roxas II’s grandfather. His father, Sen. Gerardo Roxas was at the Aug. 21, 1971 bombing of Plaza Miranda.
Testament to Filipinos’ will to survive. Or maybe Avelino was behind the grenade attack. Having saved the president’s life, Roxas, Sr now owes so much to Avelino.
Excerpt: “ Carlos P. Romulo who was an authority for the crowd estimate, said the vast throng of about 50,000 immediately stampeded and “disappeared like magic,” despite police efforts to cordon off the area.”
Roxas Escapes Assassination by Manila grenade hurler
Milwaukee Sentinel March 11, 1947 page 2
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WREwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ew0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5017,2381396&hl=en
MANILA, March 11 – (Tuesday) – AP – A Manila barber, 50, told police today he had hidden a hand grenade in a bag of peanuts, then hurled it at President Manuel A. Roxas last night in a futile assassination attempt.
A Filipino photographer, the chief of the presidential palace guards, and five others were wounded, but the president was unhurt.
Police identified the barber as Julio Guillen y Cuerpo. Guillen demonstrated how he had secreted the grenade and found a seat 10 yards from the platform where Philippine notables were clustered.
“When I had almost finished eating peanuts,” he said, “I decided to throw the grenade. My chair wobbled and my aim was not so accurate.” He said he blamed Roxas for current economic hardships in the islands.
The attack occurred on a platform in front of ancient Quiapo Church in Plaza Miranda, Manila’s central transportation terminal, which was jammed with 50,000 persons.
A fast kick by Jose Avelino presiding officer of the Philippines Senate, was credited with saving the group of notables on the platform, including Brig. Gen. Carlos P. Romulo and Roxas’ wife, son Gerardo and daughter Ruby.
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