Toy plane’s part mistaken as bomb
The discovery of a part of the remote-controlled toy airplane sent panic among residents of Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City before noon Wednesday.
Reports said that a barangay official called the Mandurriao Police Station after some residents found what they suspected to be an improvised explosive device or a bomb.
Immediately, Mandurriao Police Station, together with the Iloilo City Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD), proceeded to the scene.
Instead of a bomb, they saw a starter of a toy airplane at a vacant lot, which used to be a ricefield.
“What they reported was they saw something that resembles like a bomb because it has an antenna, wires of different colors, and battery,” said Mandurriao Police Station chief Chief Insp. Conrado Garganillo.
Despite what happened, Garganillo still lauded the people for their vigilance.
“They are aware of what is happening on their surroundings and their immediate reporting to us is a good sign that we have a vigilant community,” he added.
Initially, residents theorized that the “bomb” could be related to sabotage the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Iloilo City.
But Garganillo said that the area is far from where Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s area of engagement.
“It is also not within her way to where she would be visiting,” Garganillo said.
Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo was in Iloilo City Wednesday to visit the Ronald Raymond Lacson Sebastian (RRLS)-Information and Communications Technology Academy of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Molo Inc. (JBLFMU).
She cited the institution for its role in promoting this city as a center of information and communications technology (ICT).
The said visit is part of the President’s “Cyber Corridor Tours.”
