DPWH commends alert street sweeper

The street sweeper who discovered the improvised explosive device (IED) near the US Embassy in Manila was awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday. DPWH said sweeper Ellie Balabagan was awarded by Secretary Mark Villar during a simple ceremony yesterday morning for foiling the bombing near the embassy on November 28. Considered as the ‘hero behind the foiled bombing,’ a certificate and P20,000 were awarded to Balabagan, who just started working as a sweeper for the agency six months ago. Balabagan, from Iligan City, discovered the IED around 6 a.m. after checking the trashcan along Roxas Boulevard. She immediately informed the police who promptly defuse it at 7:45 a.m. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)