KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/29 November) — Ten vintage bombs believed used during World War II were dug up in a farmer’s lot in Barangay Kisante in Makilala, North Cotabato, around 930am Wednesday, a police official said.
Makilala police officer-in-charge, Inspector Rizal Alolod, said the unexploded ordnances were 76-MD projectiles. The bombs, however, no longer have fuses and explosive fillers so they won’t explode, he said.
The bombs were dug from the farm lot of former barangay councilor Ebol of Barangay Kisante, according to village chair Danilo Dante.
Dante said that local residents led by village guards were digging a grave for the late barangay councilor when they discovered the vintage bombs.
They immediately informed the police station.
Around 1030am on the same day, bomb experts from the provincial police office and the Army’s 63rd Explosives and Ordnance Team from the Army arrived at Ebol’s farm and immediately cordoned the area.
Dante, quoting Ebol’s widow, said the place used to be a garrison during World War II.
He added that Ebol’s father was a war veteran and he could have buried the projectiles there.
Police believed other explosives were still buried in Ebol’s place and in other areas of Kisante.
Dante recalled that two years ago they also recovered near a school in their village two vintage bombs, which were a lot bigger and longer than the recent find.
The village official said he would meet today his constituents to discuss the matter.
The recovered bombs were placed in the custody of the EOD team in Kidapawan City, police said. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
