The News Today Online Edition - Iloilo News and Panay News

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Grenade found in Ceres Kalibo terminal

Unidentified suspects left an Atis -type grenade in a bus terminal in Kalibo, Aklan early Monday morning. With its safety pin already missing, a male utility worker of Vallacar Transit, operator of Ceres bus lines immediately reported to superiors his discovery.

Authorities from the Kalibo police and operatives of the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) of the Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO) were called in while over ten units of the Ceres bus lines were pulled out and parked elsewhere. Such, as passengers were diverted to a safer place that served as temporary terminal as government agents combed the area for more grenades and secured the one found lying on the ground.

After about two hours, sandbags were placed around the grenade following the EOD team's decision to detonate such and not move it an inch.

The terminal located at Osmeña Avenue gathers at least 2,000 passengers daily with regular trips to and from Iloilo and Roxas cities. Radio reports quoted Ed Tangub, dispatcher of said bus line saying operations remained normal despite the brief tension felt and disruption caused by the grenade discovery.

Sources told The News Today that security was immediately heightened in the terminal throughout the day alongside similar alerts sent to other terminals by the bus line management.

Police investigation continues though no suspects have been identified as of yet.

To recall, Vallacar Transit has since been subject of harrassments by terrorist rebels and target of extortion activities. In the past, Ceres units were burned in the Province Capiz.