MANILA, Philippines — Assorted explosive materials were discovered left off just about 300 meters away from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame along the corner of Road 7 and Road 5 in Brgy. West Crame in Quezon City on Monday (October 12).
According to PCol. Anthony Gantang, San Juan City Police Station chief said a garbage collector scavenging through the garbage found a bag placed inside a sack. Upon checking, assorted explosive materials were found inside the bag including a hand grenade. He immediately reported his discovery to authorities.
Gantang said it looks like the explosives were simply left in the area improperly.
“Sadyang iniwan pero yan na-discover ang ano namin is, parang tinapon siya. Pero improper yung pagtapon, pag-dispose ng mga materials na 'to,” Gantang told reporters in a phone interview.
(It was deliberately left behind, but what we discovered was that it seemed to have been dumped. However, the disposal of these materials was done improperly.)
Gantang said the explosives were only training grenades and were not loaded with gunpowder.
“Basta dalawa nga yun siya eh, yung grenade na walang laman, yung wala siyang pulbura. Di ko masyadong ma-ano yung exact number. Tapos may rifle grenade, may crimper,” he said.
Investigation is now underway including CCTV reviews to establish how the explosives ended up in the area. Residents however said there were no sightings of suspicious personalities in the area, Gantang said.
“‘Pag umaga, 'di ba normally, ‘yung mga tao nagdadala ng basura dun sa kung saan pini-pick up ng garbage collector, yung mga basura, dun siya isinama, dun siya nakasama. Nung in-open na ano, in-open na nung garbage collector, nagkalkal siya, nakita niya dun sa loob ng sako yung bag na yun,” Gantang said.
(In the morning, as people normally do, they bring their trash to the designated garbage pickup spot—and it was included right there among those waste items. When the garbage collector opened it and dug through, they found that bag inside the sack.)
