POLICE defused a bomb found in a rubbish bin near the US Embassy in Manila Monday, authorities said.
The police chief of the National Capital Region said an improvised explosive device composed of a cell phone, blasting cap, 9-volt battery and 81-millimeter mortar was found by a street sweeper about 200 meters from the embassy.
“Most probably there was an intention to bomb the area because there’s a detonating device, a cellphone, but this is still under investigation,” Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said in a phone interview.
Police sent a team to “disintegrate” the device shortly after it was reported to authorities, Albayalde added.
Albayalde said police still had no suspect and were interviewing witnesses while seeking to obtain CCTV footage of the area.
The bomb scare closed the road in front of the embassy for about three hours, from 7:36 a.m.
In a statement, US embassy press attaché Molly Koscina thanked the Philippine National Police for its quick response to ensure the safety of the people.
“This morning, a municipal employee reported the discovery of a device to US Embassy guards, who immediately contacted the police,” Koscina said, who was in a meeting during the time of incident.
In a dzMM radio report, the security forces said the municipal employee found a carton box on the sidewalk of Roxas Boulevard.
“We are thankful that the municipal employee and the PNP took quick and appropriate action to ensure the safety of all,” Koscina said.
Albayalde confirmed that the item found in the box was an IED, containing a blasting cap, a detonator, a cellular phone and a 9-volt battery. He said the 81-mm mortar was the same as the one used in the deadly Davao City night market bomb attack that killed 15 people.
Manila Police District chief Sr. Supt. Joel Coronel said they conducted a sweep of the area to check for similar devices in the area.
“There is no threat, no cause for alarm as of now,” Coronel said, after the police sweep. With AFP
