The military is reminding residents in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and part of Sultan Kudarat to be careful of unexploded ordnance, especially in former war zones.
Unexploded ordnance litter in areas where soldiers and Moro bandits clashed in the past. They include landmine, mortars, grenades and many others.
Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division chief, said the military is busy recovering unexploded bombs for proper disposal and have so far collected 260 unexploded ordnance. These were properly disposed in June, July and August in the mountains of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
However, Pangilinan told reporters that not all areas have been scoured by military bomb experts so the danger of unintentional or accidental explosion is high.
Some of these unexploded ordnance landed in the hands of lawless elements who converted them into improvised explosive devices.
Colonel Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the 6th ID, said residents in rural areas should be careful in finding unexploded ordnance, including all kinds of bombs.
“The best thing for them to do is report to nearest police office to prevent getting hurt,” Hermoso told reporters.
The military also called on village officials to remind their constituents on the danger of tinkering with the unexploded bombs if ever they find one.
The military action came after the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL).
It said in a report that some unexploded ordnance, such as land mines, grenades, mortars and cannon shells, were found not far from paths used by villagers, including schoolchildren in some maguindanao barangays and areas of North Cotabato.
Alfredo Lubang of the PCBL said as part of stepped up efforts to keep people safe from unexploded ordnance, or uxos, his group and several non-governmental organizations have produced posters providing basic information on unexploded explosives for schools and other public places.
He said the initiative is supported by the European Union.
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