PNP to file charges vs 15 in Glorietta 2 mall blast

(Updated 3:40 p.m.) The Philippine National Police (PNP) will file criminal and administrative charges against 15 people for negligence that led to the Glorietta 2 blast that killed 11 people and injured a hundred others last year. This, as the police formally ruled out Thursday afternoon the terrorism angle in the mall explosion. Southern Police District commander Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman said among those who will be charged criminally for reckless imprudence and gross negligence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to property are: • Engr. Candelario Valdueza, Project Engineer of Makati Supermarket Corp. (MSC); • Engr. Marcelo Botenes, Building Engineer of MSC-Glorietta 2; • Engr. Jowell Velvez, Bldg Administrator of MSC-Glorietta 2; • Engr. Arnel Gonzales, Bldg Manager of MSC-Glorietta 2; • Engr. Clifford Arriola, Operation Manager of Marchem Industrial Sales and Services Inc.; • Joselito Buenaventura, Supervisor, MARCHEM; • Charlie Nepomuceno, MARCHEM Maintenance Personnel; • Jonathan Ibuna, MARCHEM Maintenance Personnel; and • Juan Ricafort, MARCHEM Maintenance Personnel. Recommended to be charged for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and administrative charges for gross neglect of duty are: • SFO4 Anthony Grey, Fire Safety Inspector, Makati City Fire Station; • SFO2 Leonilo Balais, Fire Safety Inspector, Makati City Fire Station; and • FSInsp Reynaldo Enoc, Fire Prevention Officer, Makati City Fire Station A separate case for violation of the Fire Code of the Philippine (PD 1185) against the Makati Supermarket Corporation, and the Ayala Property Management Corporation, including: • Engr. Ricardo Cruz, Operations Manager of Metalline Enterprises; and • Miguel Velasco Jr, Foreman. Also facing administrative charges for Simple Neglect of Duty is FCInsp Jose S Embang Jr, City Fire Marshall of Makati City. "The generation and accumulation of gas became possible due to negligence of personnel tasked to maintain facilities in the basement," he said. Ticman noted that three fire officials - who will be charged administratively for neglect - were included in the list of people held responsible for the blast for failing to inspect fire safety measures in the mall. "We also included fire safety officials of our department. I included them in the cases, with a possibility of including them in other charges as well because it was their duty to oversee this," Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno said. No bomb residue Ticman said analysis of the blast site, evidence obtained from the area, as well as the bodies of some fatalities showed that the explosion was not caused by a bomb or an improvised explosive device. "(Our) significant findings rule out terrorism," Ticman said at a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, adding findings from various agencies also ruled out a bomb causing the blast. Ticman cited findings from the Philippine Bomb Data Center, National Bureau of Investigation and Makati Explosives and Ordnance Division that did not find traces of a bomb explosion. Ticman said a bombing would have left a crater, soot, explosive residues in the skin and clothing of victims, and components of a bomb or an improvised explosive device at the blast site. The findings were contained in a 41-page report by the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force (MAITF) chaired by Ticman. "We ruled out explosives as the cause of the explosion. Based on the above findings, clearly bombing was not the cause of the explosion at Glorietta 2," he said, noting that there was no physical manifestations, punctures or thermal effects, or any sign of a tearing effect on the vehicles near the building. Ticman noted that there were 2 explosions - the first occurred at 1:31 p.m., and the second 1 min and 45 seconds later. The effect of the two explosions on the flooring may only be achieved in a gas explosion, Ticman said. "Only accumulated gas can create that effect," he said. Methane reached flash point On the other hand, he said specimens recovered from ground zero and analyzed by the NBI gave a "positive presence of hydrogen sulfide, a byproduct of biogas." He said methane would comprise 65 percent of the whole biogas production. Ticman said the biogas was produced from waste. "These are human waste and vapor from diesel fuel," he said. In the press conference, Ticman explained that the explosion stemmed from methane and a sudden rise in temperature that caused the fuel to reach its flash point of 70 degrees. "Liquid diesel is transformed into diesel vapor (at) 55 to 70 degrees," he said. Ticman also cited testimonial evidence from team leader Elmer Giganto, who said there was a problem with the 7.5-horsepower submersible pump. He also said foreman Felix Paje testified smelling a foul odor and feeling hot at the basement because there was lack of ventilation. "These things of course will contribute to the production of methane," he said. Aumatic switch sparked the blast In the press conference, Ticman said a newly installed pump switch likely provided the spark that caused the deadly blast, saying laboratory results of the electrical components recovered from the blast site showed that the switch was on automatic mode. "Lab results show this was the only switch on 'On' position at the time of explosion. The automatic switch for pump 4 was the one on 'On' position. Kalalagay lang kasi nito (It was just installed) a day or two before the explosion," he said. He was referring to the newly repaired Pump No. 4 at the basement, which he said was installed either Oct. 17 or 18. Earlier, Ayala Land Inc. - the owner of the mall - said it is ready to face the outcome of the police investigation into the blast, even as it remained firm in contesting the findings made by the PNP that the blast was a gas explosion. - GMANews.TV