Manila police said improvised explosive device similar to device used in Davao bombing.
The Manila Police District (MPD) has confirmed on Monday afternoon that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found near the United States Embassy in Manila.
MPD chief Police Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel said in a radio interview that parts of the IED was found along the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard.
The said device include an 81-mm mortar, a 9-volt battery, cellular phone, a switch device and a blasting cap.
The reports says that the IED was found by a street sweeper who is a personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) in a trash can along the boulevard at past 7 a.m on Monday, November 8.
Street sweeper Ely Garcia said that they saw a cellular phone with black and red wires connected to a black circular object.
She said the phone and the circular object were covered with electrical and packing tapes.
Because of this, a section of the boulevard, from the US Embassy to Kalaw Avenue, was closed as members of the MPD’s bomb squad detonated the IED.
According to Coronel, the device found near the US Embassy, based on initial investigations, was similar to the IED used in the night market bombing in Davao City last September.
To recall, the bombing at the Davao City night market in September which killed 15 people and injured many others prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of lawless violence nationwide.
Until now, the state of lawless violence has not yet lifted.
In some of his speeches, Duterte warned that he might suspend the writ of habeas corpus if the violence continues.
Same radio interview quoted Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa saying that the Maute Group could have planted the IED near the embassy.
Few days ago, the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched an offensive against the Maute Group in Lanao town.
