Cyanide, blasting caps found in pump boat

CEBU, Philippines - A kilo of cyanide and five bundles of dynamite blasting caps were recovered by the police from an abandoned pump boat off Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, yesterday.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, head of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch, said they received a text message regarding the suspicious pump boat spotted off Sitio Mahayahay 2 around 8 a.m.

The police asked locals to tow the abandoned pump boat to shore where a team from the Cebu City Explosive and Ordnance Disposal discovered fifty blasting caps grouped into bundles of ten and a kilo of cyanide.

Santander said the locals saw two men leaving the pump boat before it was spotted adrift.

Police said the blasting caps are used mainly for illegal fishing and may also be for other purposes such as bombings perpetrated by insurgent rebels.

 “Wala na nato wad-a nga possibility because mismo ang Bohol ang naka-experience ana,” Santander said.

Investigation revealed that the pump boat was from Bohol.

The police have also identified the owner of the pump boat and the items recovered from the boat.

The five bundles are worth P2,200 each.

Santander said they are intensifying their campaign against insurgency following the bombing of a power grid tower in Bohol last month.

He said they received orders from Police Regional Office-7 to be extremely cautious with their respective areas of responsibility.  (FREEMAN)