US turns over P15-M anti-bomb equipment to S. Mindanao police

CAMP CATITIPAN, Davao City – An anti-terror officer of the US Embassy in Manila turned over anti-bomb equipment worth P15 million to the Southern Mindanao police yesterday.

Ed Schlachter, together with the US Embassy’s anti-terror program specialist Ronald Dizon, handed the anti-bomb equipment to Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, Southern Mindanao police director, in simple rites here.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa witnessed the turnover.

Verzosa said the anti-terror gadgets showed the unwavering support of the US government to the country’s anti-terror campaign.

“This will further enhance our ongoing anti-terror drive in this part of Mindanao,” he said.

Last month, several civilians were killed and scores were injured when a bomb blast ripped through a passenger bus in Digos, Davao del Sur.

There were reports that elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Special Operations Group and the Al-Khobar extortion gang were responsible for the attack.

Schlachter said the anti-bomb gadgets were donations of US citizens.

“These pieces of equipment will help anti-terror enforcers investigate, identify, locate or neutralize bombs,” he said.

Turned over were an anti-bomb suit worth P4 million to P5 million, bomb X-ray machines, bomb disruptors and bomb detection gadgets.

“We are lucky to receive the anti-bomb equipment because of the prevailing terror threats,” said 11th Explosive Ordnance chief SPO4 Miguel Vicente, whose men passed a US-sponsored training in the use of the anti-bomb gadgets.