World War II vintage bombs discovered at National Museum compound

Two vintage bombs were unearthed Monday night at the compound of the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila, according to Nico Waje's report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Bomb experts from the Manila Police District (MPD) inspected the bombs, one of them a 75mm high explosive projectile and another a 27mm cartridge.

The two were reportedly used as ammunition for cannons during World War II.

"Bale nung nag-ano sila, nag-ayos sa complex sa ground, natamaan ng backhoe operator. So 'yun, nag-protrude itong mga item na ito. So itinawag niya agad sa kaniyang chief security," said Police Lieutenant Leo Limbaga, officer-in-charge of MPD's District Explosive and Canine Unit (MPD-DECU).

(They were doing something at the compound when the backhoe operator found the bombs. He then called his chief security.)

Limbaga said it was pure luck that one of the bombs did not explode when it was accidentally hit by the backhoe.

"Pag sumabog ito [if this exploded], it has a 30 to 50 casualty range," Limbaga said.

Also this month, three other vintage bombs were found in Manila — two 81mm mortar illumination that were found at the National Museum's compound and a 120mm projectile high explosive that was found in Tondo. —KBK, GMA Integrated News