Bogus bomb found near Manila City Hall

It had wiring, a timer, a cell phone supposedly as the triggering device, and “dynamite” made of carton.

A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) which later turned out to be fake was found in front of Manila City Hall early Wednesday morning, the police said.

Street cleaners found the device in a trash bin around 6 a.m. along N. Lopez Street, near the Bonifacio Shrine.

According to Chief Supt. Romeo Desiderio, commander of Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5, “disruption procedures” performed on the device did not find any explosive material.

Its three “dynamite sticks” were actually just rolled pieces of carton, according to Insp. Arnold Santos, chief of the MPD Explosive and Ordnance Division.

Whoever planted the bogus IED just wanted to sow fear, Desiderio said.

The fake bomb was found nine days after a real IED was discovered on Roxas Boulevard, about 200 meters from the US Embassy also in Manila. The Philippine National Police has since arrested three suspects in connection with the Nov. 28 incident. —AIE BALAGTAS SEE AND  RADYO INQUIRER