An explosive ordnance disposal unit of Zambales province destroyed this laptop delivered by the Department of Science and Technology to San Antonio Mayor Preciliano Ruiz. According to Ruiz, the laptop was placed in an unmarked package, prompting him to suspect that it contained an explosive device. (Photo courtesy of San Antonio police station)
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—A package thought to be containing explosives triggered a bomb scare Monday at the house of Mayor Preciliano Ruiz of this town.
Ruiz said the suspicious package was delivered to his house around 2 p.m. and did not bear the name of the sender.
He said the package was marked only with “Bangkal, Makati” as the place of origin.
“I never received a call or an email informing me about this package so I called the police,” Ruiz told the Inquirer in a text message.
Local police and a team from the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit of the province were deployed to the mayor’s house.
“The EOD team has no equipment to check the package and instead used a K9 dog that sat on the item,” Ruiz said, adding that this prompted the EOD team to blow up the package.
According to the investigators, the package turned out to be a brand new laptop from the Department of Science and Technology based on the transmittal papers found in it.