By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A 1,000-pound vintage bomb during World War II was discovered at Barangay Magsaysay in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City.

Photos surfaced on social media showed the ordnance is an M65 1,000-pound General Purpose bomb used by U.S. forces during the war.

Cadiz City police said Rolly Pelongco discovered the munition while excavating the quarry site using a backhoe in Purok Lambunao at around 11:00 p.m. on July 24.

Authorities immediately dispatched their Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to the site.

Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, said the EOD unit have cordoned off the area and told residents to stay away as it is possible that the bomb could still be active.

The city government told police that they could provide necessary supplies to safely dispose of the bomb.

Catalogo said, based on historical records, the Imperial Japanese forces operated an airfield in Barangay Magsaysay during World War II.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force website said the M65 bomb was typically used to target infrastructure, such as dams and concrete or steel railroad bridges.

The website of the Australian War Memorial stated that the bomb could also be used to destroy ammunition dumps, aircraft on the ground and some warships./DGB, WDJ