| US Navy assist in detonating 104 vintage bombs in Davao Sur |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Friday, 14 November 2008 | |
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United States Navy explosives expert offered their assistance in detonating 104 assorted types of vintage bombs in Barangay Mahayahay, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur on November 13.
Senior Police Officer 4 Miguel Vicente, Jr., Region-11 Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Unit (EODU-11) team leader identified the foreign US Navy as EODW2 Eric Fisher and EODW2 Cob Brown.
Vicente said outgoing PNP-11 Regional Director Chief Supt. Andres Caro approved the disposal of the assorted explosives composed mostly of World War 2 bombs found in different parts of the region and deposited at the SATU/EODT compound at the Davao City police office compound.
“It is becoming a threat and hazardous to PNP personnel and the civilians, as well, so we have to set it off to prevent inflicting injuries,” Vicente said.
The bombs the EODU-11 successfully detonated at the site were: 42 81mm mortar ammunition; 27 MK2 fragmentation grenades; 12 Japanese artillery ammunitions; 10 60mm mortar ammunitions; 10 Japanese fragmentation hand grenades; 4 fuses (for 105AA); 3 rifle propelled grenades; 4 M33 fragmentation hand grenades; 4 APERS Mine (WW2); 2 40mm ammunitions; 2 caliber 20 ammunitions; 3 75 lbs. drop bombs; 4 105 mm projectiles; 2 20 lbs. drop bomb; 17 50 mm projectiles; 1 30mm projectiles; and 1 40mm projectiles (Special ammo).
Vicente said SPO2 Joel Garcia; PO3 Nelson Adlawan and PO3 Yolindo Ypon of the EODU-11 along with the joint special operations task force unit (JSOTFU) escorted the fragile cargo from the EODT Explosive Magazine Compound in Davao City en route to the detonation site in Hagonoy town.
Local police dug a huge crater at the detonation site to and cover the explosives with sand and other safety devices to assure that nobody would be hurt as the bombs simultaneously explodes.
Police Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao also ordered the EODU to secure permission from the town mayor, police chief and the barangay officials so that the villagers would not be alarmed when the bombs will go off.
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