AY R. GOTERA MANILA: Vanquishing a nightmare, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Saturday personally detonated the last of some 181 tons of Cold War-era bombs left by US forces formerly stationed in the Philippines. A huge mushroom cloud rose over the Crow Valley Range in Capas, Tarlac province after Aquino pressed the button triggering the explosion of the last two pallets of 287-pound Mk 6 depth charges and two pallets of 190-pound Mk 9 depth charges. The exercise completed the month-long disposal of 4,146 pieces of various types of World War II naval ordnance. Some of the bombs dated to 1947 and were previously stored at Caballo, a tiny island at the mouth of the Manila Bay. Aquino heaved a sigh of relief following the explosion, telling reporters that one of his worst nightmares was the unintended explosion of the huge cache of munitions in Caballo Island which, he said, could have caused massive destruction in Bataan province and even Metro Manila. Military officials said a domino-type explosion from the leftover US naval ordnance could have created a destructive blast lethal to humans within a 32-kilometer radius. Such a blast could have endangered nearby populated areas and ships plying Manila Bay, they added. ‘'Imagine, that was just a portion,'' Aquino told reporters after witnessing the safe detonation of the remaining five tons from the cache at Crow Valley, a former gunnery range of US forces previously stationed at Clark Air Base. ‘'This was really one of my first nightmares upon assuming office'' in June last year, Aquino admitted. During his visit to the United States last September, Aquino discussed with US President Barack Obama the removal and disposal of leftover US naval ordnance. US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. who came to Crow Valley to witness the event, congratulated the Philippine military and other government agencies for the swift, safe, and successful disposal of some 4,146 pieces of various types of World War II naval ordnance.
