Combined Army and police elements intercepted three truckloads of explosives and bomb-making materials in a checkpoint in Matnog, Sorsogon yesterday morning.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said the seized explosive materials include 36 tons of ammonium nitrate, 600 dynamite connectors, 601,000 detonating cords, 144,000 safety fuses, 144,000 fuse lighters and 2,122 blasting caps.
Torres, quoting Army intelligence reports from their unit in Bicol said the bomb-making ingredients and explosive devices came from Bataan and are bound for delivery in Mindanao via a passenger ferry in Matnog.
Local Matnog police as well as the Traffic Management Group, was alerted by elements of the 21st Infantry Battalion over the presence of three cargo trucks laden with explosive devices in the area.
The security alert prompted the local police and the TMG operatives to establish a checkpoint along the Matnog highway where the three cargo trucks were subsequently intercepted before it could be loaded in a passenger ferry.
Initial verification showed that the shipment is covered by a permit to transport issued by the Philippine National-Firearms and Explosives Division (PNP-FED) at Camp Crame.
The permit also showed that the deadly cargoes owned by Nitro-Asia, are for use in a mining operation in Agusan province. While the transport permit appeared to be in order, Army and local police decided to impound the shipment until after an official verification from Camp Crame has been obtained.
If subsequently cleared, the cargo would not be allowed to be loaded on a passenger ferry because of the high risks involved.
“Napaka delikado kung isasakay ang mga explosives na yan sa pampasaherong barko. Dapat mag-hire ang may-ari nyan ng private ferry,” said an Army official.