Improvised bomb found in an elementary school in Davao City

Miami
August 27, 2008
Story: Improvised bomb found in an elementary school in Davao City

An improvised explosive device was found in the back of an elementary school in Davao City, Wednesday afternoon of August 27, 2008.

Chief Inspector Querubin Manalang, Spokesperson of Region 11, confirmed the report and said that it was found at the back side, outside of the fence of Hizon Elementary (public) School in Barangay Lanang, Sasa, Davao City at around 2:00 pm.

The bomb was found by retired enlisted personnel of Philippine Air Force identified as Mauricio Camarao who was walking on the area with his carabao. He was about to leave his carabao near the fence of the school to rest when he noticed the 81-mm mortar with blasting caps and wires on it.

According to him, the IED is exposed or can be easily seen though it was laid in the grassy portion area.

The fence of the school is about 6 feet high. The IED is about 15-20 meters away from the school building.

Camarao reported it to the police then Explosives Ordnance Division of the PNP Region 11 immediately responded.

Since it is near the school, the policemen coordinates with school administrator to inform them that there is a bomb at the back of their school and to let the students go out of the school because they will have to detonate it there. The classes were suspended at around 2:30 pm.

Manalang said the IED can be detonated with the use of cellphone because of the blasting caps and wires on it. “But if has no any wires or blasting caps that can ignite the mortar, this will not explode easily,” he explained.

The IED detonated where it was found because of the high risk that if they transport it, the IED will explode.