LIEUTENANT General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), has advised workers of construction firms to be vigilant while undertaking digging works to avoid untoward accident.
Vinluan issued the advice after a 1,000-pound vintage bomb was discovered by a backhoe operator on Legaspi Street, Isabela City, Basilan province.
"Let us practice alertness and vigilance at all times," Vinluan said, citing some vintage bombs could still explode when carelessly handled.
Colonel Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force Basilan, said the backhoe operator accidentally hit the 1,000-pound bomb while conducting digging works Saturday, October 3.
Gobway troops of the 16th Special Forces Company and the police Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) team immediately responded and cordoned the area along Barangay Isabela Proper, Isabela City, for the safe recovery of the vintage bomb.
He said the EOD teams of the military and the police conducted proper evaluation and assessment of the vintage bomb, which was brought to the 4th Special Forces Battalion headquarters while waiting for the approval for proper disposal.
"We are still waiting for the report from the EOD team as to the classification of the vintage bomb," Vinluan said. (VoxPop Zamboanga)