DAVAO CITY —- (UPDATE) Police said a recovered bomb stored inside Camp Domingo Leonor, the Davao City Police Office compound along San Pedro Street here, accidentally went off shortly before noon on Black Saturday.
Police Major Jason Baria, Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office spokesperson, said the explosion occurred inside the stockroom of the Davao City Police Office’s (DCPO) explosive and ordnance disposal (EOD) unit around 11:30 a.m.
“Previously recovered explosives stored at the EOD-DCPO stockroom accidentally exploded, producing a loud blast at the SATU (Special Anti-Terrorism Unit) barracks,” Baria said.
He said bomb experts were now conducting an investigation on what caused the bomb to explode.
There were no reports of casualties, Baria said.
The blast was so powerful it ripped off part of a ceiling of a dormitory from across the camp.
Andrew Mojica, guard on duty at Royal Suites Hotel along CM Recto St., said he thought they were hit by a bomb due to the force of the explosion.
Minutes later, he said he saw the police quarters at the other side of the fence catching fire and heard ambulance sirens blaring.
Firefighters were also sent to the police camp to contain the fire that ensued, said Superintendent Virnalita Silagan, Davao City fire chief.