The blaze destroyed P10-million worth of ammunition and property.
"It was not sabotage or any external source that caused the ignition that started the conflagration of an ammunition stock house located at Headquarters, 6th Infantry Division (ID), Camp Siongco, Awang, Maguindanao," said AFP public affairs office chief Ernesto Torres.
"This was the conclusion of the investigating team that conducted inquiry into the cause of the explosion, composed of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and the Cotabato City Fire Department," Torres said.
The fire started at 4:20 a.m. and was contained two hours later. The building that was razed contained defective mortars and ammunition, which were returned by field units, as they are declared old and unfit for use.
"The report pointed out that rodents, preying on the exposed volatile primers and propellants, caused the propellant charges to ignite. The lack of ventilation also contributed to the adverse effects of the temperature on the items inside the building, since the building was roofed with corrugated tin sheets," said Torres.
The building was totally destroyed, with everything inside either burned or exploded. There was also a slight damage on the roof of the adjacent ammunition house.
"The guards on duty claimed in their testimonies to have heard a whistling sound and had seen a bright light inside the Ammunition Dump #3, after which came simultaneous and successive loud explosions from the stock house," said Torres.
"As a result of the incident, the 6th ID lost propellant charges, fuses, and primers for 105 millimeter (mm) and 155mm howitzer. However, these losses will not affect the present conduct of operation of 16 Field Artillery Battalions (FAB) within the 6th ID area of responsibility," he said.
Government forces under the Army division are in the middle of an offensive against rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under Ameril Umbra Kato, head of the MILF 105th Base Command who is believed hiding at the Liguasan marsh.
"The present ammunition stock of 16 FAB in its inventory is sufficient to sustain the operations in Central Mindanao based on the Division's present regular ammunition expenditure," added Torres. (VR/Sunnex)
