US-marked explosives found along La Union shoreline

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 21): US-marked explosives found along La Union shoreline

LUNA, La Union -- Some 88 pieces of explosives believed to be owned by the the United States government were found along the shorelines of Sitio Tawi-tawi in Barangay Magallanes here.

According to Chief Insp. Arsenio T. Ramos, police chief of Luna police station, the explosives were first unearthed by a year old boy who was with his father picking pebbles near the shoreline on March 11.

“When the father saw that his son was holding something that is marked ‘high explosive’ he immediately ran towards him and let him drop it,” he said.

Ramos also said that when the father went to the area where his child was playing, he discovered more explosives which prompted him to report the incident to the local police station.

Police here further sought assistance from the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Police Regional Office 1.

The explosives described as rectangular in shape and shorter than a sardine can are ½ Pound High Explosives Trinitrotoluene (TNT). Authorities believe the explosives are owned by the US government as they bore the markings “Corps of Engineers, USA.

The police have yet to determine who buried the explosive devices but they suspect that they have been buried for a long time since the markings on some pieces can hardly be read.

TNT or Trinitrotoluene is a type of explosive mostly utilized nowadays in mining, excavation and demolition of old buildings.

“A single blast of a TNT can burn and destroy one police patrol car,” Ramos described.

The police however said that such device will not explode unless a blasting cap or a device used to trigger a secondary explosive, for instance the TNT, is attached.

All the explosives are now under the custody of the EOD.

The local police remain vigilant in monitoring the area and assured the implementation of maximum security within their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Police Senior Supt. Angelito Dumangeng, La Union Police Provincial Office director lauded the prompt action of the father.

"We highly commend the immediate action of our resident in reporting such incident to avoid massive destruction and accident," Dumangeng said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2711458208902/us-marked-explosives-found-along-la-union-shoreline