Coast Guard divers recover 18 vintage bombs

Divers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) retrieved 18 vintage bombs near the South Harbor in Manila yesterday.

The 76-mm projectiles, each weighing at least 1.5 kilos each, are still capable of exploding and inflicting serious damage when detonated, according to PCG spokesman LCdr. Joseph Coyme.

Some of the bombs were initially found under the sea by fishermen off the breakwater of Manila Bay yesterday morning. They immediately reported their findings to the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila.

Divers from the PCG-Special Operations Group, with the assistance of the unit’s anti-bomb squad, scoured the area and found more bombs.

Coyme said the recovered bombs will be turned over to the Explosives and Ordnance Unit at Camp Crame for proper disposal, even as retrieval operations are still ongoing.

He also advised fishermen who may find more bombs not to tinker with the explosives since they are still capable of exploding.

"They should immediately report their find to their nearest coast guard or police office," Coyme said.

Experts said thousands of bombs dropped from aircraft during World War II still lie at the harbor’s deep waters. – Nestor Etolle