WW II vintage bombs found in public market

Five World War II vintage bombs were recovered by the Caloocan Police in a crowded public market in the city the other day.

Initial reports showed that a certain Mike Bernardo, 43, a vendor, called up the Caloocan Police at around 2:50 p.m. to report that a rice sack containing the bombs had been left in an alley at the Poblacion public market on F. Sanchez St., corner 10th Avenue.

Elements of the Caloocan City Police Special Weapons and Tactics-Explosive Ordinance Division (SWAT-EOD), led by SPOs1 Wilfredo Quillan and Joel Lopez immediately responded and found four three-foot long aerial bombs and a 60 mm mortar shell.

Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo and newly-appointed Caloocan chief of police, Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, also rushed to the scene. According to Chief Inspector Loreto Malaybalay, SWAT-EOD chief, the bombs were unexploded ordnance from the WW II.

Witnesses said that a man, known only in the area as "Ed" planned to sell the bombs to pay for losses in cara y cruz, a common coin game. He allegedly fled before the police arrived. – Nikko Dizon