Northern Police District-Explosives and Ordnance Division (NPD-EOD) personnel seized yesterday at least 47 different kinds of World War II-era bombs from a junkshop in Caloocan City.
Chief Inspector Reynante Bastian, NPD-Special Weapons and Tactics chief, said the vintage bombs were confiscated by his men from the Advance Metal Inc. compound in Barangay 8, Dagat-Dagatan.
A concerned resident informed the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) about the presence of old bombs at the junkshop.
Explosives expert SPO1 Zachary Vitaliano told The STAR that the bombs no longer posed any danger – they did not have explosive components and were already corroded – the police still seized the bombs to ensure the safety of residents.
Bastian said two of his men, explosives experts PO3 Jesus Simon and PO2 Joselito Llantano, were dispatched to Barangay 8, Dagat-Dagatan to verify the report on the bombs.
“The bombs were placed inside a drum filled with water and put separately from other scrap metals when we seized them,” Simon said.
According to Matthew Sy, Advance Metal supervisor, most of the vintage bombs, made up of anti-aircraft projectiles and artillery bombs, came from the provinces and were segregated from other forms of scrap metal.
Vitaliano advised scrap metal buyers to immediately inform proper authorities once they get hold of old bombs because they could still explode if not properly handled.
He also said that for temporary safekeeping, they must follow the example of Advance Metal and place the bombs inside a container filled with water.