AFP official: Fire at Camp Aquino was not due to terror attack

Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Wednesday the fire that hit Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac Tuesday evening was not due to any terrorist attack or sabotage.

“Inaalam pa ang naging sanhi nito subalit sinisiguro natin ngayon pa lamang na walang nangyaring terrorist attack, walang nangyaring paglusob ng mga kalaban, at walang nangyaring sabotahe. Ang nangyari po dito ayon sa inisyal nilang imbestigasyon ay more on safety issues,” Arevalo told reporters.

He said an explosion caused the fire but they are still waiting for the report of the Scene of the Crime Operatives. 

“Ang initial report natin sa NolCom (Northern Luzon Command) ay nagkaroon ng pagsabog na naging dahilan ng sunog kagabi ng 10:30 at kaagad na naapula bandang 11:30 ng gabi dahil sa mabilis na aksyon ng ating mga kawal at pagtugon ng ating mga tagapamatay-sunog,” he said.

“Actually pati yung sumabog ay isa sa mga bagay na kinaklarify natin kasi ang pangunahing impormasyon na ibinigay sa atin, ito ay dating area na meron tayong storage ng mga ammunition kaya may sinasabi tayong posibilidad na merong safety issues, o safety requirements na baka hindi pa nabigyan o napagtuunang pansin,” he said. 

He said affected by the fire was a building of the Army Support Command.

Arevalo added no AFP personnel were injured in the incident.

An initial information showed that the wife of a certain Capt. Armando Bohol was hurt in the fire. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News