Explosive materials found in garbage in San Juan

MANILA — Authorities recovered assorted explosive materials, including training grenades and dummy rifle grenades, after a garbage collector found a bag containing the items in Barangay West Crame, San Juan City on Monday morning. 

San Juan City police chief Col. Anthony Gantang said the materials were found inside a bag placed in a sack among garbage near a residential area. 

“Assorted explosive materials siya pero more on mga ginagamit sa pang training, ‘yung training grenade tsaka ‘yung rifle grenade na dummy, saka mga shell ng ammunition,” Gantang said. 

The area is about 300 to 400 meters from the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Gantang said. 

According to the police chief, a garbage collector discovered the bag while rummaging through the trash for recyclable materials. 

“Nakalagay siya sa sako, doon sa may basurahan. Itong garbage collector, nangangalkal sila dun. So nakita niya sa loob ‘yung bag, meron siyang nakita na granada, ni-report niya sa barangay saka sa pulis,” Gantang said. 

Gantang clarified that the materials appeared to have been improperly discarded rather than deliberately left unattended. 

“Kasi ‘pag sinabi naming unattended, iniwan, sadyang iniwanan. Pero ‘yung na-discover, parang tinapon siya. Pero improper ‘yung pag-dispose ng mga materials na ‘to,” he said. 

“Kasi syempre pagka ‘yung ordinaryong tao nakakita ng granada, na hitsurang granada, syempre matatakot ‘yun. Although ‘yung granadang nakita nila is wala naman laman, walang pulbura, ‘yung parang semblance lang siya,” he added. 

Gantang said police were still checking CCTV footage to determine who discarded the bag or who brought the materials to the area. 

The recovered items are now under the custody of the police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel.

Gantang urged anyone who finds similar materials to coordinate with the police EOD unit for proper handling and disposal.

He noted that even training materials resembling actual grenades could alarm residents who encounter them.