Bomb scare: Bag of dirty clothes prompts closure of Cebu City street

A K-9 checks out a suspicious bag along Gen. E. Chavez Street, Cebu City on April 18. | Benjie Talisic

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A bag filled with dirty clothes prompted the closure of Gen. E. Chavez Street in Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City at past 5 p.m. of Maundy Thursday.

This after an establishment in the area reported to the police about a suspicious-looking bag left along the street.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Rommel Bangcog, Parian Police Precinct or Police Precinct 1 investigator, told CDN Digital that the security guard of the establishment saw the bag in the street at 4 p.m. but when after an hour later no one took it, the guard called the police.

Bangcog said that they responded and cordoned the area literally closing Gen. E. Chavez Street to prevent any vehicles from passing by while they would be inspecting the bag to see if there was a possible explosive inside.

The Special Weapons and Tactics Team and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal  (EOD) team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines also responded bringing with them their K-9 team.

Read more: Police remind residents to secure houses on Holy Week vacation

Bangcog said that they coordinated with the AFP EOD team because the police’s K-9 teams were assigned in specific areas for Holy Week duties.

Later when the EOD team arrived, a K-9 checked the bag, which was followed by an EOD expert wearing a bomb suit, who opened the bag to find out what was inside it.

It turned out that the suspicious bag only contained dirty laundry./dbs