Rifle grenade found in Makato plantation

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A rifle grenade was recovered by a bomb squad in a far-flung barangay of Makato, Aklan on August 16.

Virgelio Santiago, 59, tanod of Barangay Libang, noticed the M76 rifle grenade in a coconut plantation at around 6:40 a.m. and reported the incident to Makato municipal police station. 

The Explosive and Ordnance (EOD/K9) of Police Regional Office (PRO-6) led by Senior Police Officer 4 Vengie Repedro and the 1^st Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company led by Chief Inspector Renante Matillano responded to the area. 

Repedro said the rifle grenade is now in the custody of the EOD for disposal in a safer place. 

“Within 5 to 10 meters radius, it could explode and kill anyone,” he added.

Barangay officials and the local police are puzzled how it got there and where the rifle grenade come. 

The rifle grenade is an explosive device launched from the muzzle of a rifle. The device was commonly used during World War II, especially by the Allied American Forces and the Axis German Forces.

Today, the rifle grenades have been replaced by under-barrel grenade launchers such as the M203.