An unexploded ordnance explosion in Nueva Vizcaya claimed the life of a barangay official and severely injured another after they attempted to saw through the device in Almaguer South, Bambang.
According to PMaj Novalyn Aggasid, spokesperson for the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office, the 42-year-old barangay councilor from Baan, Aritao, who was also a contractor, discovered the unidentified ordnance at a project site in San Antonio North, Bambang.
Believing it contained gold, he brought the device to Almaguer South along with his 33-year-old worker from Nueva Ecija.
While they were sawing through the ordnance, it suddenly exploded, causing a blast that residents initially mistook for a gas tank or transformer explosion.
The powerful detonation dismembered both victims, instantly killing the barangay official, while his companion sustained critical injuries and is now under intensive care at the Region II Trauma and Medical Center.
The Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU) is currently analyzing the remaining fragments to determine the exact type of explosive device they were handling.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid tampering with discovered bombs or explosives and instead report such findings immediately to the police, as these devices may still detonate.