Bomb found in car taken for servicing at auto shop in Laguna

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna—An improvised bomb was found inside a car brought in for auto care service at a Toyota dealership shop in Alaminos, Laguna, at noon Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, said in a phone interview that the bomb was placed inside the engine of a Toyota Avanza car (plate number VEB 221) registered under the name of Narinder Singh, an Indian national living in Sta. Cruz town.

Another Indian national, who claimed to be a car dealer but whose identity was still being investigated by the police, took the car to Toyota San Pablo around 10 a.m. Although named after San Pablo City, the car shop is actually located on the Maharlika Highway in the adjacent town of Alaminos in Barangay (village) San Benito.

“The service crew found the bomb when they started checking the vehicle,” Muñoz said.

Employees of Toyota San Pablo were evacuated until the police bomb squad arrived and announced that the bomb had been defused.

Muñoz said the person who brought the vehicle in was being held by the police for questioning.

“But he never left the shop and claimed that he did not know about the bomb. Nevertheless, we still cannot conclude anything yet until after the investigation,” he said.