A junk shop in Jolo, Sulu, was found storing a dangerous collection of old explosives after Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ordnance experts recovered 93 unexploded projectiles, including a 500-pound World War II aerial bomb, from a scrap yard in Barangay Alat on Monday, October 12.
Coast Guard Leads Recovery of 93 Explosive Devices
Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, acting chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, told reporters on Tuesday that the operation followed a tip from villagers about rusty explosives at the junk shop.
The Sulu-based PCG unit led the recovery, with support from military and police personnel.
Local officials said the shop owner, who buys scrap metal and other recyclable materials, was being questioned by police and Army intelligence to determine where the ordnance came from. No charges had been reported as of October 13.
Cagara said the unexploded ordnance would be properly disposed of at a site in Jolo under military guard.
Sulu's History of Conflict Raises Concerns
The discovery highlights the risks posed by unexploded ammunition left behind by decades of conflict.
Jolo and nearby towns experienced heavy fighting between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from the 1970s through the 1980s. The two sides signed a final peace agreement in 1996.
The World War II bomb also points to the possibility of older wartime ordnance remaining in the area.
Rusty Explosives Can Still Detonate
Authorities face a particular challenge when old ammunition enters scrap yards, where collectors may mistake it for ordinary metal.
Despite rust and deterioration, unexploded shells and bombs can remain unstable. Cutting, hammering, moving, or dismantling them for scrap metal can trigger an explosion.
Authorities advise anyone who encounters suspected ammunition or explosives to leave them untouched, avoid moving or selling them, and mark the location from a safe distance if possible.
Residents should immediately contact the police, military, or Coast Guard and allow trained explosives personnel to handle the recovery and disposal.
