C4s for SRP bombs ready

CEBU, Philippines - The detonation of the 28 bombs found at the South Road Properties will now push through as the needed C4 explosives are already available at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command.

The Cebu Contractors Association is also ready to provide at least six cargo trucks to transport the vintage bombs to Toledo City where these will be detonated.

Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, spokesperson of the Centcom, told The FREEMAN that 125 C4 explosives worth P1.7 million is already at the 7th Forwarding Army Service Support Unit located at the Pier 2, Cebu City.

“The C4 are ready for pick up anytime this afternoon sent by the national headquarters,” Tampus said in an interview yesterday.

Cebu City Hall’s request for the explosives was immediately granted through the help of Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, commander of the Centcom.

Tampus said that Villanueva went to Kawit Island yesterday morning and advised that all bombs should be immediately disposed of because picric acid from some of the bombs leaked to the ground.

Villanueva recommends to search the area with a metal detector to clear the place of bombs.

 The Centcom will also include in the detonation the 1,000-pound, 40-feet vintage bomb found at the IT Park in Barangay Lahug last year. 

Phillip Zafra, chief of staff of Mayor Michael Rama, said it was already agreed that once the Centcom approves the request for C4 explosives, the cargo trucks will immediately proceed to the South Road Properties. Zafra said the bombs would be loaded into the cargo trucks and it will be placed on top of sand to prevent them from moving during the transport.

Police patrol cars will escort the trucks for a smooth travel to Toledo.

The Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, in coordination with the Cebu City Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), already detonated one of the bombs inside the Carmen Copper Corporation compound.

The vintage bombs were discovered by construction workers who were digging at the old Kawit Island, now already part of the SRP, for the White Sand public beach resort.

Zafra said they want to look for people who are capable of determining if there are more bombs underground. (FREEMAN)