THE Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. called on the public to be wary of World War 2-era explosive ordnances which failed to detonate.

He said once any civilian sees an unexploded bomb, he or she must call the attention of authorities.

Unexploded bombs need to be properly disposed of by the PNP Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD)/K-9 Group or their counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The expertise of police and military bomb technicians in disposing of these materials is highly needed since no matter how old or damaged they may look, they can still be as or more dangerous since the day they were manufactured.

Police called on the citizenry to consider these bombs extremely dangerous in case they encounter one.

There have been previous incidents in Metro Manila and the provinces wherein scores of people have either been killed or maimed while attempting to saw off bombs in an effort to sell their steel materials in junk shops.

There were also cases of children being killed while toying with the explosives.

These tips are all aimed at protecting one’s family, friends and neighbors since these bombs will most likely be found in areas where there have been fighting between security troops and insurgents and other terrorists in the past or in known World War 2 battlefields.

There were also incidents wherein people who found these bombs had brought them home as souvenirs.

These vintage bombs come in many shapes and sizes too and may be visible on the surface or be buried or be exposed by erosion or fires.

Some of these can also be difficult to see after developing rust after many decades and hidden under deep grass, foliage or thick brush.

Last week, around 164 kilograms of vintage bombs and improvised explosive devices were successfully disposed of by bomb technicians from the PNP EOD/K-9 Group headed by Brigadier Gen. Albert G. Magno at the Crow Valley Gunnery Range in Capas, Tarlac.

A total of 1,506 pieces of assorted bombs and other deadly explosive materials were set off during a controlled detonation by police bomb technicians at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Airbase in Crow Valley.

According to Magno, the presence of these menacing explosive materials poses an imminent threat to the surrounding communities as they hold the power to cause catastrophic harm or claim lives in case of explosion.

“This disposal goes beyond a mere routine; it symbolizes our unyielding dedication to protecting our people and our nation. We are determined to rid our land of the remnants of past conflicts and present threats.

Let it serve as inspiration to continuously support, train and equip our experts, providing them with the necessary resources to confront ever-evolving challenges,” Acorda said.

The EOD/K-9 Group has launched its Project A.B.K.D. (Awareness of Bombs that Kill Lives and Destroy Properties) through partnership with various government agencies and other organizations in raising public awareness about the grave threats posed by explosive materials.

The PNP EOD/K-9 Group is manned by highly-trained officers ready to respond 24/7 to reports about the presence of vintage bombs and even bomb threats in the country.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon