CAGAYAN – The police regional director here warned the public anew against tinkering with unexploded bombs that they may discover in the aftermath of the successive typhoons that hit the province.
“People must be reminded that these items are dangerous, and, hence, they should not attempt to keep any of these as souvenirs or use them for any purpose,” said Police Regional Office 2 (PRO-2) Director Brig. Gen. Crizaldo O. Nieves.
Nieves reiterated the warning after the recovery of another unexploded ordnance weighing about 1,000 pounds near the Pinacanauan River in Callao, Peñablanca, Cagayan on Sunday. This was transported to the PRO-2 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group based in Tuguegarao City, Monday.
“Nakita ito sa maliit na tributary tabi ng Pinacanauan river. Nag erode iyong sa maisan na katabi at posible na doon nakabaon (It was found in a small tributary beside the Pinacanauan River, it was possible that it was buried there),“ PRO-2 Information Officer Lt. Col. Andree Abella told The Manila Bulletin.
It was reported that on Sunday, residents were gathering firewood in the area when they saw the bomb, which, at first, they thought was a big firewood.
”Akala nila isang malaking kahoy na pwede nila iuwi, sinubukan pa nila ito pukpukin ng bato ngunit laking gulat na parang bakal, sa takot agad sila tumawag sa barangay at sa pulis (At first they thought it was a huge piece of wood that they could bring home. They even tried to pound on it with a stone but they were surprised to find out that it was steel. In their fright, they reported it to the barangay and the police),” a barangay official told the police.
Capt. Jayson Macadangdang, Chief, PRO-2 EOD and Canince Unit head, also warned the public not to tamper with the unexploded ordnance as this could explode.
On November 26, a 60mm mortar exploded inside the house of the Siruno family in Barangay Mission in Teresita, Cagayan, when a father and his son tried to dismantle the vintage bomb.