Ayala experts contradict PNP findings in Glorietta 2 blast

Experts hired by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), owner and operator of Glorietta 2 mall, contradicted the findings of American and Australian security investigators who said the October 19 explosion in Makati was caused by a gas explosion. "No evidence was found to indicate any contamination with a volatile liquid," said Jaime Ayala, ALI president and chief executive officer, during a press conference on Sunday. He said the company’s findings disputing the police's methane gas theory is being supported by Dr Stephen Etheridge, a scientist at the Science Council of the United Kingdom and a specialist on wastewater and effluent treatment. Etheridge also specializes on biogas production, Ayala said. "It is highly unlikely that methane would be produced in the Glorietta 2 basement sump pits because the conditions for the production of methane in substantial quantities were not present," Ayala told reporters. A sump is defined as a hole where "wastewater and sewage flow into." Ayala said the Glorietta 2 basement had no septic tank and the urine and other liquid waste that flow into the sump pit are discharged daily. Ayala said: "The diesel fuel in the day tank has been tested by a major oil company in their laboratory and the flash point result was found to be normal at 76 degrees celsius and within specifications." The flash point is the temperature at which sufficient vapor from a liquid is formed for combustion to occur, Ayala explained. Ayala called on the Philippine National Police to continue its investigation to establish a clear picture on what caused the explosion. He admitted that his firm is yet to make a thorough investigation of the blast site because the police have yet to turn over the area to ALI. Ayala also said no initial report has been furnished by authorities to ALI. He said he has not received yet the police report ruling out a terror attack. The PNP on Saturday said it will make public its final report on the Glorietta 2 mall explosion in two weeks. Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Command, said it will take "one to two weeks more kasi iko-consolidate lahat ng mga lab results, autopsy report." Barias said that while the police investigation has so far pointed to an accident as the cause of the blast, many are still questioning the findings. Police investigators recovered several equipment from the mall’s basement on Friday, including circuit breakers and a pump. Barias said that once the investigation is completed, the final report will be presented by Southern Police District head Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, who heads the inter-agency task force looking into the blast. The October 19 explosion killed 11 people and injured at least 112 others. - Cheryl Arcibal, GMANews.TV