Bomb found inside Cagayan cathedral

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   – An improvised explosive device was discovered inside the compound of the archdiocese of Tuguegarao on New Year’s Day even as a bomb scare hit the city’s fire station. 

The said device, left behind by still unknown individuals in front of the centuries-old Cathedral along Rizal street, which is the seat of the Cagayan archdiocese, was discovered by security personnel around 7:30 a.m. Jan. 1, or as city residents were still slumbering from New Year’s revelry.

According to Superinten­dent Pedro Martirez, city police director, the device was recovered around 25 minutes later by responding bomb experts from the police regional office, which is located in the city’s outskirts.

Unlike a firecracker found almost at the same time at the city’s fire station, bomb experts confirmed that the discovered item was indeed an improvised bomb but it did not have any gunpowder or blasting cap. 

“The device was assembled as a bomb but since there was no powder or blasting cap, it lacked the capability to explode,” Martirez said.

Archdiocese personnel could not be contacted for comment. 

Almost simultaneously, the city’s Bureau of Fire Protection was hit by a bomb scare after a mysterious device was left by unknown individuals next to one of its fire trucks. The device was later found to be only a pyrotechnic.