Another bomb found

A "crudely-made" bomb that was set to explode within 25 minutes was discovered early yesterday in front of the former Finance Building in Luneta and briefly caused terror to bomb disposal experts when its timer began ringing before they could defuse it.

The improvised explosive was cased in an antiquated charcoal-heated flat iron with blasting caps, clock, and two hands full of explosive powder taped around it.

"Had it exploded, the flat iron pieces would have served as the shrapnel and cause some injuries," said Inspector Jose Macanas of the Western Police District (WPD) Tactical Operations Center.

The bomb was reportedly set to explode at 8:30 a.m. when building security guards found it about 8:05 p.m. at the grassy portion of the former Department of Finance office near the Agrafina Circle of Luneta, where a bomb also exploded earlier this week injuring one person.

The area where the bomb was found is always full of passersby and promenaders, said police.

"The bomb was crudely-made, if terrorists were really behind this, it should have been something more sophisticated, so we believe that this is the work of a mere prankster," said WPD director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. "There is no cause for alarm." He said the damage the bomb could have caused was "minimal".

Razon theorized that those who planted the bomb were amateurs because of the "easiness" in defusing it.

Based on Ermita police station commander Superintendent Gil de Castro's report to Razon, it was security guards Servando Benzon and Carlos Torralba who virtually defused the bomb.

Benzon reportedly saw a black sports belt bag on the grassy portion and inspected it to see if there were any valuables in it. But in the course of opening the bag, Benzon reportedly saw the bomb and Torralba, who was looking over, suddenly grabbed it and threw it to the ground. It was when Torralba snatched the bag that the wire to the clock leading to the flat iron was detached.

The guards then reportedly called the police but the clock began ringing before bomb experts could come close to it. The clock kept on ringing and but there was no explosion.

Razon said they are now looking into a possible link with the Agrafina explosion, which the WPD chief said could be the handiwork of pranksters. "From the looks of it two different persons or groups are behind the two bombs," said Razon. The Agrafina bomb was reportedly made of black powder which caused injury to a person after it sent some rocks flying. -- Nestor Etolle