Using a radio-firing device from atop a hill 1.5 kilometer away, President Aquino on Saturday detonated the last of 4,146 bombs left over from World War II. These bombs could kill people within 32 kilometers of an island in Manila Bay where they had lain forgotten for decades.
After the ordnance were rendered safe, they were transported to the Crow Valley bombing range here in 16 trucks in February. The bombs were blasted in batches beginning Feb. 9 with the last of the lot fired on 5 March 2011 (Saturday) by the President during the close of the joint explosive ordnance operations between Philippine and US troops.
The bombs were buried in lahar and detonated at Crow Valley, which used to be a live firing range of the US Air Force until 1991. The area had been used during war games by Philippine and US troops under the Visiting Forces Agreement.
Clouds of gray smoke billowed skyward after Mr. Aquino pushed the detonator.
The President said the vintage bombs were brought to his attention in August last year. They included depth charges and antisubmarine rockets. [Excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer report]
(Photo courtesy of The Manila Times)
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