ILIGAN CITY (June 27) – A 500-pounder bomb found at the Most Affected Area in Marawi was detonated on Wednesday afternoon, June 26, an activity which caused panic among residents.
A new comer of Mindanao State University (MSU), reportedly collapsed when she heard the explosion. The MSU campus is just near the MAA.
The Philippine National Police in Lanao del Sur has assured the public anew that the peace and order situation in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur is under control.
Based on reports, five 500- pounder bomb was dropped during the 2017 Marawi siege and until now, only two are accounted, while authorities continue to locate the remaining three, a reason why demolition work is done carefully with the help of the members of the bomb squad.
The detonation of said bomb was done at the Sector 5 of the MAA.
Marawi residents and kibitzers immediately took the social media to express apprehensions and fear.
Colonel Madzgani Mukaram, director of the Provincial Police Office in Lanao del Sur, said the explosion at 2 p.m. was a disposal of an unexploded ordnance (UXO) retrieved inside the Most Affected Area (MAA) of the Marawi Siege, during a clearing operation.
The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), through the National Housing Authority (NHA) that supervises the demolition of structures, has divided the MAA into nine sectors.
Marcelino Escalada, NHA general manager said “The safety and welfare of the residents and those working in the area is our primary concern, that is why we are coordinating our movement with the local government for them to help us explain to their constituents the procedures that we have to undertake to avoid confusion.”
The Joint Task Group Builder, composed of the Explosive Ordnance Division of the Philippine Army and the private contractor, has continued its clearing activity as part of the demolition and rehabilitation process inside the 250,000-hectare former main battle ground.
Mukaram reminded the public that when there is a scheduled disposal of UXOs, an advisory will be sent to the public through radio and social media.
“There will be warning… A long siren before the disposal and two short sirens after,” Mukaram said in a phone interview. -Divina M. Suson/NewsLine.ph
