*Another World War II vintage bomb is found in a riverbank at the city outskirt
By Jun R. Guiang
LAOAG CITY, Jan. 19, 2021–P/Lt. Col. Rafael Lero, the city police chief, reported that the vintage bomb long displayed as decoration in front of the barangay hall at Brgy. Cavit, this city could “pulverize” one Sitio if mishandled.
The village of Cavit is situated a few meters away from the Laoag International Airport.
Col. Lero described the vintage bomb as General Purpose (GP) type that could “wipe out one Sitio” if exploded.
Sensing its danger, Police Chief Lero quickly sought emergency assistance from the Ilocos Norte Police Office headed by Provincial Director P/Col. Christopher Abrahano. The INPPO’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal rushed to the scene, cordoned the vicinity, and safely retrieved the bomb.
The presence of the recovered bomb was first relayed to Col. Lero on Monday, January 18 by Brgy. Chairman Jerry Alonzo of the aforesaid village.
Alonzo remembered that the bomb was already there, half-buried at the place and on public display as a mistaken scrap metal decoration since he was still a Grade 5 pupil.
Investigation showed that some construction workers on the roofing of a basketball court tried to remove the bomb from the place when they noticed that its propeller was intact.
Thinking that it was an active explosive, they got scared and reported it to the barangay officials.
Meanwhile, another vintage bomb was also reported on Jan. 23, 2021 after it was discovered by a barangay tanod in a riverbank at Brgy. Zamboanga, this city.
The discovered vintage bomb was first relayed to the city disaster risk management (CDRRM) and later to the EOD (Explosives Ordnance Disposal) unit of the INPPO, Camp Juan, Laoag City.
Zamboanga Brgy. Chairman Elmer Lorenzo theorized the bomb might have been buried in the aforesaid riverbank by the withdrawing Japanese soldiers during World War II.
It was already the third similar bomb found in the area, the village chieftain said. (jun r. guiang w/ tri-media reports)
