Eerie parallels between Serendra explosion, 2007 Glorietta blast

Authorities are investigating eerie similarities between the blast at Two Serendra in Taguig last Friday and the 2007 explosion in Glorietta Mall that killed 11. Both are Ayala properties that were initially thought to be targets of bomb attacks.

A government fact-finding panel concluded in 2011 that the 2007 tragedy was caused by a methane gas leak, but Ayala insisted for years that it was a bomb, citing traces of the chemical compound RDX, a bomb ingredient. After dogs failed to sniff bomb traces in Serendra last weekend, probers are once again exploring the possibility of a gas leak.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said probers are finding out if the explosions in these two properties have the same "circumstances."

"Pinapatingnan ngayon 'yung circumstances at detalye noong pagsabog na iyon [Glorietta blast] kaya aalamin kung parehas ba o hindi," Roxas said in an interview over GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" on Sunday afternoon.

He added that Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials are now at the blast site to determine what really caused the explosion in the posh condominium.

On Friday night, three people were killed after a powerful explosion rocked the Two Serendra building in Taguig City. The fatalities were riding a delivery van, which was crushed by a large slab of concrete from the blast site.

On Saturday, Roxas said bomb-sniffing dogs did not find any bomb traces near the site. The Cabinet official, however, said that authorities are still not ruling out the possibility that a bomb caused the explosion.

Gas pipelines to be checked

In 2007, eleven people were killed in an explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City. Different teams of experts presented conflicting theories. One argued it was a bomb attack, another insisted that it was a gas leak.

Two years ago, a DOJ special fact-finding panel concluded that methane gas, not a bomb, caused the Glorietta 2 blast. Several persons involved in the construction of the mall were charged with reckless imprudence.

Roxas earlier said that the Ayala Group, together with government investigators, "will be checking on gas pipelines, electricals, structurals and general safety" of the affected building of the Two Serendra complex.

In the television interview, the Cabinet official said that investigators will check if the condominium builders followed construction standards once the possibility of a bomb explosion is ruled out.

"Unang-una, titingnan kung 'yung standards ay karapat-dapat. Ikalawa, kung karapat-dapat ang standards, kung sinunod ba 'yung standards sa pag-construct," he said.

He added that probers will also determine if persons who conduct maintenance operations on the condominium building are qualified and accredited to do so.

Roxas likewise said that Ayala Land Inc. is cooperating with the investigation into last Friday's blast, allowing probers to interview the condominium's security personnel. The investigators are also conducting interviews with the building's tenants. — Andreo Calonzo/BM/HS, GMA News