A barangay councilman died, while his worker was injured critically, after a vintage bomb exploded while they were cutting it open with a saw in Almaguer South, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.

The 42-year-old victim, who also worked as a house contractor, found the old bomb at their construction site.

Believing it might contain gold, he and a co-worker brought it to their bunkhouse where they tried to cut it open.

The explosion killed the kagawad instantly, while his worker lost both legs and suffered from severe injuries.

"Yung update po sa isang victim kasi namatay si kagawad, nasa ICU sa RTMC," Nueva Vizcaya police spokesperson Police Major Nova Lyn Aggasid said.

The Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU) is now examining bomb fragments to determine its type and origin.

Authorities warned the public strongly against handling unexploded ordnance and urged that they report to police immediately should they find one so it can be disposed of properly.

"Sa mga naka-discover ng ganito, Sir, kapag nakakita ng ganyan, i-report agad. Huwag nilang kunin o hawakan, huwag nilang lagariin. Hindi lang ito [ngayon] nangyari, dati sa previous years din may naputulan," Aggasid said.