Security at the Senate has been further tightened after authorities recovered a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) approximately 150 meters from one of the chamber's gates on Monday morning, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus confirmed.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on July 27, Corpus said the suspicious package was discovered at around 8:00 a.m. by personnel operating a towing truck outside the Senate complex.
According to Corpus, the package had been placed near the rear tire of the towing vehicle. Upon opening what appeared to be a SkyFlakes box, the personnel found a package containing wires and a battery before police officers conducting patrols noticed the item and immediately reported it to their superiors.
The Philippine National Police's (PNP) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit responded to the scene and secured the package, which has since been turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for forensic examination.
Corpus said the device was initially classified as a suspected improvised explosive device due to the materials found inside.
"What they saw was a battery. It has a battery, it has a picklock, and a commercial blasting cap, and then parang merong brown powder with it. So, that is why it was initially sinabing suspected improvised explosive," Corpus said.
Despite the discovery, Corpus clarified that authorities have not yet officially confirmed whether the recovered object is a functioning IED, pending laboratory examination and the official findings of the Philippine National Police.
"I still have to get the official report from the Philippine National Police. The package was sent to SOCO to determine if it's really an IED. But as I said, it has a battery, a picklock, a blasting cap, and brown powder, which is why we are treating it as a suspected IED," he explained.
The incident occurred as security forces remain on heightened alert for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the opening of the 20th Congress.
Corpus said the discovery prompted Senate officials to immediately strengthen security measures both inside and outside the Senate complex.
"Naka-heightened alert naman tayo because of the SONA and the opening ceremony of the Congress. Right now, mas lalo nating pinahigpit ang ating security dito sa loob ng Senado at sa labas," Corpus said.
Authorities have yet to determine the origin, intended target, or motive behind the suspicious package as the investigation continues.
