SUSPECTED vintage bombs believed to date back to World War II were found by construction workers buried within the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine compound on Monday, July 7. 

The unearthed explosives included two aerial bombs and a Japanese grenade. 

Personnel from the Manila Police District’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit swiftly arrived to assess the scene, safely securing and recovering the explosives.

Authorities suspect the bombs are remnants from World War II, possibly left behind during the intense bombardment of Manila in the 1945 liberation campaign. 

During that time, Manila was one of the most devastated cities in the Asia-Pacific region, with entire districts flattened by artillery and airstrikes from both Japanese and Allied forces.

Portions of the site were cordoned off as a precaution while police searched the area for other potential unexploded devices.

This isn’t the first time war-era munitions have resurfaced in Manila. 

In April 2023, a World War II vintage bomb was also discovered at a construction site inside the University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus in Sampaloc. 

In March 2024, another vintage bomb was discovered near the parking area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.

Both were safely secured by authorities.