Regional EOD and Canine Unit 12

PNP UNCOVERS ARMS CACHE, EXPLOSIVES IN CAGAYAN OPERATION

The Philippine National Police (PNP), under the command of PNP Chief, Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., recovered an arms cache and improvised explosive device (IED) components during a joint law enforcement operation in Barangay Viga, Lasam, Cagayan on May 30, 2026, preventing the possible use of these weapons and explosives in activities that could endanger communities and undermine public security.

The recovery was the result of a joint operation conducted by personnel from the 2nd Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company, 112th Special Action Company of the PNP Special Action Force, 203rd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2, Cagayan Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 2, Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Lasam Municipal Police Station.

Acting on validated information provided by a former rebel, the operating units conducted focused security activities in the villages of Tagao, Viga, Peru, Nabannagan East, and Nabannagan West, leading to the discovery of assorted fi****ms, ammunition, explosive materials, communications equipment, and bomb-making components concealed in a remote area of Barangay Viga.

Recovered during the operation were four improvised blasting caps, 3.5 meters of commercial detonating cord, three meters of fuse time, six 40mm high-explosive cartridges, one Japanese Type 97 hand fragmentation gr***de, one PRB 423 high-explosive hand fragmentation gr***de, an improvised anti-personnel mine component, 156 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 41 rounds of assorted 7.62mm ammunition, two caliber .38 revolvers with six rounds of ammunition, three magazines for a 5.56mm rifle, an improvised shotgun, 20 meters of stranded wire, four cellular phones, a handheld radio, a 12-volt wet cell battery, a bandolier, and nine high-explosive rifle gr***des. The recovered items were brought to the Lasam Municipal Police Station for documentation, while the explosive materials and IED components were turned over to the Cagayan Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit for proper processing and disposition.

“The recovery of these weapons and explosive materials is a significant accomplishment that helps prevent potential threats to public safety. We will continue to pursue every lead and deny lawless elements the resources they need to carry out violent activities,” said PGEN Nartatez.

“Ang bawat armas at pampasabog na ating narekober ay isang hakbang tungo sa mas ligtas na komunidad. Mananatili tayong mapagbantay at kikilos agad laban sa anumang banta sa kapayapaan at kaayusan,” he added.

The accomplishment reflects the PNP Focused Agenda, a strategic framework for transformation designed to make police service more responsive and accountable. In line with the key priority of Enhanced Managing Police Operations, the PNP continues to strengthen intelligence-driven efforts and sustained security initiatives aimed at preventing armed groups from regaining operational capability and threatening communities.

As the PNP continues to intensify operations against armed groups and recover weapons and explosive materials that pose risks to public safety under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it continues to assure the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.”

(PNP-PIO)

LOOK: Under the leadership of PBGEN ROGELIO Z RAYMUNDO, JR, Director of the PNP-EOD/K9 Group, the Group held its regular Recognition and Awarding Ceremony to honor deserving personnel for their outstanding accomplishments at PNP-EOD/K9 Group Headquarters, RECU-NCR, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.

The Group remains dedicated to sustaining high morale and ensuring that Field Units receive timely recognition for their exceptional service.

Guided by the PNP Focused Agenda on Morale and Welfare, this commitment to celebrating excellence reinforces the core vision of a "Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman."

RAPID EOD AND K9 RESPONSE NEUTRALIZES UNATTENDED BAGGAGE THREAT IN BUTUAN CITY

In alignment with the PNP Focus Agenda, under the leadership of PBGEN ROGELIO Z RAYMUNDO, JR, Director, PNP-EOD/K9 Group, personnel from the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit 13 (RECU 13) successfully neutralized a potential security threat through a rapid-response operation in Butuan City.

The City Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (CECU) Butuan, received an urgent mobile call from Tactical Operations Center (TOC), Butuan City Police Station 1 (CPS-1). The call requested immediate EOD assistance regarding a suspicious black backpack left completely unattended in front of the PAG-ASA Pawnshop along the heavily trafficked Montilla Boulevard in Butuan City.

The specialist teams immediately established an exclusion zone and initiated standard operating procedures for handling suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs), conducting systematic visual assessments and specialized canine inspections. To safely neutralize the threat without risk to civilian life or surrounding infrastructure, the EOD technicians executed a controlled tactical disruption using a specialized water cannon discharge. Following the successful disruption, a careful downrange post-blast analysis revealed that the backpack contained only harmless personal belongings.

The scene was formally declared safe and cleared, and the entire operation concluded with zero untoward incidents. The contents of the baggage were properly turned over to BCPS-1 for final disposition.

AVSECU 13 SIARGAO REAFFIRMS PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH SIMULATION EXERCISE

In line with the PNP Focused Agenda on Enhanced-Managing Police Operations, under the leadership of PBGEN ROGELIO Z RAYMUNDO, JR, Director, PNP-EOD/K9 Group, and under the supervision of PMAJ JOSEPH P ESCURO, Officer-in-charge, AVSECU, personnel of the Aviation Security EOD and Canine Unit (AVSECU) 13 Siargao Airport successfully participated in a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) in Response to Active Shooting Incident (RASI) at Siargao Domestic Airport, Brgy. Dayak, Del Carmen, Surigao Del Norte.

Designed to evaluate the operational readiness of first responders, the SIMEX successfully assessed incident dynamics, identified potential hazards, and streamlined agency interoperability in strict compliance with existing SOPs.

This exercise reaffirms our steadfast commitment to the safety and security of the traveling public.

PANGASINAN PECU ENSURES SAFETY AFTER WORKERS UNEARTH TWO VINTAGE HAND GRENADES

In alignment with the PNP Focus Agenda, under the leadership of PBGEN ROGELIO Z RAYMUNDO, JR, Director of the PNP-EOD/K9 Group, personnel from the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit 1 (RECU 1), Pangasinan PECU successfully executed a rapid-response recovery operation.

This mission directly advances the Group’s core objectives of operational readiness, enhanced tactical agility, and proactive community safety. The Laoac Municipal Police Station (MPS) Tactical Operations Center (TOC) placed an urgent phone call requesting immediate EOD assistance regarding discovered explosive ordnance behind the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Building in Barangay Poblacion, Laoac, Pangasinan.

Pangasinan PECU 5th District Explosive Incident Response Team (EIRT), led by PSMS Jayson B Puyongan dispatched immediately. The volatile hazards had been accidentally unearthed by Mr. Jay R Duzon Tomeldan, a 23-year-old construction worker, and his co-worker while they were digging a hole at the back of the government compound, prompting an immediate and commendable report to the authorities.

Initiating the tactical operation, the expert EOD technicians identified the items as one (1) piece of a corroded MK2 Fragmentation Hand Gr***de lacking its safety lever, and one (1) piece of a corroded M67 Fragmentation Hand Gr***de. Recognizing the immediate danger posed by the unstable ordnance, the team meticulously conducted a Render Safe Procedure (RSP) by applying sand stabilization and carefully inserting secondary pins to secure the devices.

The entire operation was successfully concluded with zero untoward incidents. The secured explosives were safely transported and are now under the custody of the responding unit for temporary safekeeping prior to final disposal.