Bomb found in Davao grade school

DAVAO CITY – Authorities here found Wednesday afternoon an improvised explosive device in a vacant lot located at the back of a public elementary school in the northern portion of this metropolis.

According to Southern Mindanao regional police director Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, the explosive device was an 81mm mortar which was found by residents at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday just behind the fence of the Hizon Elementary School in Barangay Lanang, this city.

Caro said elements of the Explosives and Ordnance Division of Davao City’s 911 emergency response team as well as personnel of the Davao City Police Office and the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SATU), immediately detonated the IED in place.

The discovery of the explosive device caused the school children to panic and they had to reportedly be herded to a safer place while authorities continued to scour the area for other possible IEDs that could have been placed in other corners.

Caro said authorities will continue the clearing operations at the said school.

“I understand the clearing operations would go on until such time that it would be safe for the pupils to return to their classrooms,” Caro said.

Caro said security continues to be tight in the city even after the holding of the annual Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2008 festival last week.

“We have not let our guard down. We still have our security measures in place,” he said. – Edith Regalado