Centcom backs appeal for ‘historical mapping’
The Central Command is willing to support the proposal of the Cebu City Police Office for the conduct of “historical mapping” in Cebu City to identify areas with possible presence of buried vintage bombs.
Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Central Command spokesman, told The FREEMAN that the Central Command can send the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team that can help inspect “risky” areas identified through historical mapping.
Tampus said that once the “risky” areas are identified, future excavations in the city will be undertaken with extreme caution.
“It will serve as a guide for future excavation. Basin aduna pay mga succeeding construction para mas careful ang mga construction companies,” Tampus said.
City Police chief Sr. Supt. Melvin Buenafe, also the executive officer of the joint taskforce on bomb disposal in Cebu City, asked the city government to conduct the historical mapping after residents of Barangay Hipodromo expressed concern that explosive ordnance (bombs) may still be buried in certain areas in the barangay.
The concern came after five vintage anti- aircraft shells were recovered from the barangay over the weekend. The shells were recovered from a newly-dug pit inside a house that was partially damaged by recent fire in the area.
Buenafe also asked the city to make “historical background checks” mandatory for the application of a building permit.
Aside from CCPO EOD personnel who were already sent to Hipodromo, Tampus will also send the EOD team to inspect the area, further assisting the local police.
“Kaning pag- dispose, ang atong primary kinahanglan ang katawhan ug atong mga sundalo. Ang ilang schooling, they are the only once authorized in the Philippines to defuse bombs,” he said.
Buenafe already presented his proposal before the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) meeting yesterday.