World War II bomb found during digging

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- A potentially catastrophic disaster was narrowly averted after workers excavating a road near a World War II Japanese tunnel in Camalig, Albay accidentally unearthed a live 1,000-pound aircraft bomb, prompting an emergency response from bomb disposal experts.

The unexploded ordnance was discovered Tuesday, July 21, in Purok 5, Sitio Sogong, Barangay Ilaod, while a backhoe was opening a road in the mountainous area believed to have served as a Japanese military defensive position during World War II.

Police Major Mark Moses Dave, officer-in-charge of the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit (RECU), confirmed that the bomb remains active despite having lain buried underground for more than eight decades.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Reynold Miraflor of the Albay Provincial Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (APECU) identified the device as an aircraft bomb dropped during the war.

He warned that the explosive could still detonate if its warhead were struck.

“Fortunately, the backhoe did not hit the warhead. Otherwise, the explosion could have caused extensive destruction in the area,” Miraflor said.

Authorities immediately sealed off the site as members of the APECU carefully recovered the unexploded bomb in a delicate operation completed without incident.

The bomb was later transported to Camp Simeon Ola, where it will be turned over to the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit for proper disposal.

Barangay Captain Edsel Garcia said workers immediately halted the excavation and alerted authorities after the backhoe exposed the massive bomb.

The incident prompted local officials to renew their warning to residents, especially those engaged in excavation and construction work, to never touch or attempt to move suspected wartime explosives.

Instead, they urged the public to keep a safe distance from the object and immediately report it to police or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, who are trained to safely recover and dispose of unexploded ordnance.

Although more than 80 years have passed since World War II, authorities said dangerous wartime explosives continue to surface in areas that once served as battlefields or military installations, posing a serious threat to communities whenever they are accidentally uncovered.