Task force formed to dispose of vintage bombs

A BOMB disposal task force was formed yesterday to properly dispose off the 29 vintage bombs  found at the South Road Properties.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City Police Office chief,  was made  executive officer of the new task force.

He said the Police Advisory and Coordinating Council (PCAC) would lead the task force made up of several government agencies.

At this stage, members are focused on securing the site where the bombs were placed, he said.

Phase 2 would involve the safe execution of loading, transporting of the bombs to the area where they could be detonated.

The third phase will involve  detonation of the bombs.

Several several government agencies like Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will assist in the operation.

Last week, a 150-pound vintage bomb was successfully detonated at the abandoned Biga pit of the Carmen Copper Corp. in Toledo City.

However,  authorities  found out that they needmore C4 explosives to blast all the bombs.

A response is still being awaited from Camp Aguinaldo on a reqeust for more C4 blocks by the Cebu City government through Philip Zafra, chief of staff of Mayor Michael Rama.

Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing (Cebu 6th district) said he  asked the House of Representatives committee on pPeace and order and other committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation of the capability of the Philippine National Police and other  agencies to effectively respond to bomb threats, violence and other criminal acts.

Quisumbing in his proposed resolution said it’s time to review the PNP and other law enforcement agencies’ procedure on how to deal with bomb threats, detection and protocols.

Quisumbing filed the resolution following reports that Malacañang confirmed a   threat to national security during the Feast of the Black Nazarene last Jan. 9.

It was also in response to the accidental explosion in Taguig, Metro Manila of  vintage bombs that were brought by police to a welding shop.

The explosion killed at least three people.

The vintage bombs discovered by constrcution workers in Kawit Island last week were  believed to be used during World War II .

Kawit Island which is now part of the South Road Properties in Cebu City used to be an armory for the Japanese. /Correspondent Chito O. Aragon with  Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza