Bomb found in Ermita

An improvised bomb, intended to go off near a foreign exchange shop in Mabini, Ermita, was defused yesterday by elements of the Western Police District-Explosives and Ordnance Division (WPD-EOD).

Police said the bomb was a rifle grenade strapped to two punctured butane gas canisters. The device was wrapped in paper that served as the igniter.

According to Police Officer 2 Noel Suplay of the WPD-EOD, the bomb was discovered at about 8:40 a.m. underneath a water tank behind the Golden Star Money Changing Shop, owned by Antonio Romero and located at 1737-C A. Mabini, Ermita.

"Fortunately, only the butane gas canisters ignited and the grenade failed to explode," Suplay said.

Police are still checking if the rifle grenade was of military issue.

Suplay said however that even if they obtain the number of rifle grenades in the military’s inventory, it would be difficult to trace where one particular grenade originated.

Meanwhile, police are still determining the motive behind the bomb planting.

"At the moment we have no suspects yet. It could be a foiled terrorist attack or the motive could have been personal," Suplay said. – Mike Frialde