Abandoned parcel triggers bomb scare in Jaro

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) were deployed on the morning of Sept. 9 after a “suspicious” parcel was found outside a house in Jaro, Iloilo City.

EOD personnel quickly responded and confirmed that the parcel did not contain any explosives or bomb-making materials.

Major Eduardo Siacon Jr., chief of Iloilo City Police Station 9, said the contents were harmless.

“What was inside were corrugated pizza boxes,” he said.

Investigators later discovered that a man driving a tricycle had stolen the parcel from another residence along Arguelles Street in Jaro.

“The owners, who operate a pizza store, said they last saw the parcel around 6 a.m. Tuesday,” Siacon added.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the suspect driving off and stopping at the corner of Barangays San Vicente and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Upon realizing the parcel only contained pizza boxes, the man abandoned it near a house in San Vicente village.

The parcel was reported to authorities around 6:30 a.m.

Siacon said police already have a person of interest in connection with the incident.