Bomb in Basilan store a dud—police

MANILA, Philippines – An improvised explosive device found Monday by authorities in a Basilan store turned out to be a dud, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday.

The IED in a carton box with a Nokia cellphone, wires, and a small can wrapped in a packaging tape was found inside the New Mabuhay Trading in Isabela City, said the report from the PNP Intelligence Group.

The report said the package was found by store owner James Tan, who said the box has been left untouched for four days prior to its discovery.

Isabela City authorities said the makeshift bomb failed to explode after the battery of the cellphone was drained.

The police are investigating the incident.