'Historical mapping' sought to find bombs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe asked the Cebu City Council to pass an ordinance for the conduct of a “historical mapping” of the entire city to identify areas with possible presence of vintage bombs. 

The proposal came after some residents of Barangay Hipodromo expressed fears on the possibility of “live” explosive ordnance (bombs) still buried in their area following the discovery of five vintage anti-aircraft shells over the weekend. 

The shells were unearthed from a newly dug septic tank pit underneath the house owned by Lading Naces, 83, in Sitio Riverside.

Naces believes that the shells recovered from her house are part of the piles of bombs collected by her late husband, Ehino, in the 1950s. More bombs are reportedly still buried underneath their house, she said.

Buenafe said by pinpointing the exact location of “hazardous” areas in the city, excavation for construction can be done with extreme caution for possible buried vintage explosives.

“This is the right time to conduct background checks on the historical significance of an area,” he said. 

Buenafe is also proposing that “historical background checks” should be mandatory before the Office of the Building Office releases building permits.

Buenafe has directed the CCPO Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to return to Barangay Hipodromo to asses the area and for possible suspension of any forms of excavation.

Buenafe, who also serves as executive officer of the joint taskforce on bomb disposal, said he will also present the proposal during the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) meeting today.

“We have members who can present (this proposal) to the City Council. We need to propose this so that incident pertaining to vintage bombs can be avoided,” he said.

In 2010, a 1000 pounder vintage bomb, the biggest of its kind, was recovered from a construction site in Barangay Apas after it got hit by a backhoe. Luckily, it did not explode.

Last January, construction workers also unearthed 29 vintage bombs from the South Road Properties. All the bombs were safely disposed in Toledo City early this month using CV explosives.  (FREEMAN)