Vintage bomb found in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines – A vintage bomb got snagged on the anchor of a passenger ship that was docked at the Port of Batangas on Saturday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

The 155-millimeter projectile was found attached to the anchor of the M/V Ignatius of Loyola at around 7:55 p.m., according to PCG spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo.

PCG-Batangas station chief Capt. Geronimo Tuvilla sought the help of the PCG’s K9 Explosive Ordnance and Disposal and Special Operations Force, which extracted the projectile from the anchor.

Before the extraction, all officers and crewmembers of the vessel as well as that of the nearby boats and ships were ordered to leave the area.

“Usually, the projectiles have paint markings. But because of the many years it stayed under water, the markings have faded and we could not identify or trace the point of origin of this projectile,” Tuvilla said.

Authorities expressed belief the projectile got snagged as the ship was moving toward the port.

They said the bomb could have been stuck in the seabed for decades.

“Had the bomb exploded, considering its size, it would have damaged the hull of the Ignatius as well as the other vessels nearby,” Tuvilla said.

The PCG turned over the projectile to the police, which would transport it to the Crow Valley Range in Capas, Tarlac for detonation.