KIDAPAWAN CITY – Workers here found a paper bag left unattended near the entrance-exit door for employees of Gaisano Grand mall on Monday night, hours after a suspected improvised bomb was found in Mlang town, North Cotabato province.
A live rifle grenade and MK-2 hand grenade wrapped in a white cloth were found inside the paper bag at 7:30 p.m., according to Supt. Ramel Hojilla, acting Kidapawan City police director, in a report to provincial police OIC Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan.
Mall security officer Alwente Tabosares discovered the grenades and quickly alerted the police.
Police and Army bomb experts, using K-9 bomb sniffing dogs, safely recovered the explosives.
A bomb expert said the ordnance had no triggering device and would not explode. It may have been left there by couriers due to the presence of lawmen in the area.
No one has claimed responsibility and ownership of the explosives.
About six hours earlier, authorities found what it said were “hoax” improvised bombs in front of a store in Barangay Bagontapay in Mlang.
That IED, similar to the one found and deactivated in Barangay Poblacion in Mlang on Sunday, had complete bomb components, except for a triggering device and the main charge which were missing and made authorities describe it as a hoax.