Bombs found on board bus bound for Masbate

MANILA, Philippines–The Malacanang’s warning of a possible terror threat on the Black Nazarene procession may not have been unfounded after all.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed on Monday that a “huge” package of explosives was confiscated on a bus travelling from Manila to Masbate last Sunday.

About five and a half kilos of C4, eight boxes of blasting caps, three rolls of cord and six and three-fourth kilos of prime booster were found on Elavil Bus with plate number TYU 264. The bus was on board the MV King Frederick roll-on, roll-off from Albay.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the bus had come from Pasay and was en route to Masbate.

“The operation was in line with the Department of Transportation and Communications’ mandate to secure all land and sea ports during and after the holiday season,” the DOTC said.

The bus was intercepted by a joint security force aided by K9 dog bomb sniffers between the PCG and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The unidentified driver of the bus denied any knowledge that the explosives was on the bus. “The seized explosive paraphernalia had been turned over to Masbate Crime Lab, while the bus was impounded in PNP Masbate City’s headquarters for processing,” the DOTC said.

Over the weekend, President Benigno Aquino warned of terrorist threat that might be launched in Metro Manila based on intelligence report that Mindanao-based local terrorists are in the metropolis, particularly during the Black Nazarene procession Monday.