Blast rocks Bilibid as clearing ops continue

An explosion rocked the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on Friday morning, according to a report by Mark Makalalad on Dobol B sa News TV, citing National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Guillermo Eleazar.

The explosion took place while clearing operations were ongoing at the national penitentiary's quadrant 4, which used to house convicted Abu Sayyaf and Maute group members.

No one was hurt in the explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Interviewed n Dobol B sa News TV, Major Alberto Tapiru, NBP spokesman, said the blast happened around 10 a.m.

Investigation was ongoing as to how an IED was brought inside the NBP.

"Hindi pa namin tukoy pa kung saan nanggaling yung pinasabog," Tapiru said

Information from the NCRPO stated that two hand grenades and two blasting caps were recovered inside the shanties adjacent to the area where the explosion occurred.

Authorities are conducting clearing operations inside the NBP since Tuesday to remove illegal structures, including the "kubols" of influential inmates.

During the clearing operations, authorities confiscated illegal drugs, weapons, sex toys, disallowed appliances, machinery and some money.

Tapiru said it is likely that the blast was the inmates' reactions to the demolition. "Hindi namin alam ang kanilang iniisip. Siguro pinapabayaan nila kami pero nagtanim sila ng IED," he said. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News