Abandoned black bag at Supreme Court stirs alarm

The Manila Police put barriers to secure the Supreme Court along Padre Faura. INQUIRER PHOTOS BY TETCH TORRES-TUPAS

The street of Padre Faura in Manila was temporarily closed to traffic Friday afternoon after a suspicious black bag was left outside the gate of the Supreme Court.

Members of the Manila Police District-Explosive Ordnance Division (MPD-EOD) responded to the scene and examined the bag a few minutes after it was reported to the police station.

MPD officials later declared the area safe after more than 30 minutes when the bag yielded only plastic containers and some food snacks.

Ferdie Quenuel, a Barangay 669 watchman, said a woman around 40 to 45 years old towing alongside two boys ages 5 and 7 years old, left the bag around 3:20 p.m.

Quenuel said he even told the woman not to leave the bag if they were going to leave the place.

The unidentified woman carried it instead and left it outside the gate of the Supreme Court’s Centennial Building at the corner of Padre Faura and Taft Avenue.

The MPD assured the public that the police officers are on alert to thwart any threat that will compromise the safety of the people. JPV/rga

Responding policemen find nothing but plastic containers and some snacks. INQUIRER PHOTO BY TETCH TORRES-TUPAS