SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A bomb squad was deployed by the police within San Fernando City in the wake of a powerful bomb explosion here on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. that hurt a government employee.

Ilocos Region Police Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo N. Bataoil ordered the deployment of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team to investigate the bomb explosion at a garbage disposal area near the Marcos Building on P. Talavera Street in Barangay I here.

One Hipolito Aragon, 59, employed as painter of the San Fernando City government, was hurt by the explosion while he was walking on P. Talavera Street.

Aragon suffered multiple injuries due to sharpnels in different parts of his body and rushed to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center.

The explosion partly destroyed the adjacent house of Angelito Grande, a lawyer, while a side mirror of a car parked in the western side of the road was shattered.

Bataoil also ordered the deployment of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to secure the public and prevent possible recurrence of the incident.

Investigators who rushed to the scene said the explosion was so strong as shown by the damages incurred in the surrounding areas.

“Our men are now looking into the motive of the incident that could possibly lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect responsible for this inhuman act,” Bataoil said.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) are now examining pieces of evidence gathered from the explosion site for them to determine the kind of bomb used in that explosion, he added.

Outgoing Governor Victor Ortega, Chairman of Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), strongly condemned the bombing incident.

Ortega called the concerted efforts of every citizen to cooperate and report to the police any information about the suspected bomber. (PNA)