MANILA, Philippines — Authorities recovered a suspicious package near the United States Embassy in Manila minutes before the arrival of US President Barack Obama in Manila.
A radio report quoting the Manila Police District said that the package, initially believed to have been an explosive with a digital timer, was found inside a yellow garbage bin in an alley near the Bayview Hotel.
A police bomb squad was immediately deployed to the area and detonated the package.
The police later declared that the package contained wires and chips and that it was not an improvised explosive device.
Obama, who arrived in Manila at around 1:30 p.m., was scheduled for a visit to the US embassy compound at past 5 p.m. today.
He will return to the US on Tuesday afternoon. - Camille Diola