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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 05 Aug) – Children playing near the riverbank in Matalam, North Cotabato recovered a fragmentation grenade at around 5 p.m. on Friday, a village official said.
Erickson Jaylon, chair of Barangay Lower Malamote said they immediately brought the device to the police station.
Investigators from Matalam Police said the Mk-2 grenade, an anti-personnel grenade, had no more safety pin and safety lever when it was recovered.
“That lever on the side is the firing mechanism and until it comes off, the grenade won’t activate,” one of the investigators said.
“We are made to believe the explosive was left by an individual residing in the area or near the place out to sow terror,” he added.
He clarified, though, the device is not yet considered vintage or historic.
A hours after the device was recovered, an Army Bomb Disposal team from nearby Kabacan, North Cotabato arrived. The team immediately moved the grenade to an open area for controlled explosion, reports from Matalam PNP said. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)