Hand grenade found by elementary school pupils

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

(Akeanon) Sangka granada, nakita it mga estudyante sa guwa it eskwelahan / Bombo Radyo

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=129491

KALIBO, Aklan - Explosives and Ordnance Disposal team of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) detonated the fragmentation hand grenade found by pupils of Jalas Elementary School in New Washington, Aklan last week.

SPO2 Vengie de Pedro of the Aklan Provincial Public Safety Management Company said the MK2-type unexploded fragmentation hand grenade was discovered on January 14 about 2 p.m in a stockpile of gravel near the entrance gate of the elementary school."After they found the grenade, the elementary school pupils alerted barangay kagawad Rolando Agapito who properly turned-over it to the New Washington police station for safekeeping," Repedro told the Aklanforum.

Two days after, the hand grenade was safely disposed in a grassy area near the New Washington municipal cemetery by the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Team headed by Repedro. He theorized that the fragmentation grenade was brought in the area where it was discovered during the hauling of gravel and sand.
Repedro said it is fortunate the hand grenade did not explode and hurt the three elementary school pupils.
He also reminded the civilians to contact police authorities immediately once they found explosives and grenades.
"Although it did not explode, the grenade is still deadly and could kill anyone if improperly handled. We might conduct awareness orientation in the proper handling of explosive devices in the barangay to avoid similar incidents and to minimize casualties," he said.
MK2 is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the United States armed forces during World War II and in Vietnam War. It was phased out gradually and was generally replaced by the M67 and M61 grenades.