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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Latest finding: Glorietta blast a ‘gas explosion’
MANILA –- Authorities are almost certain that Friday’s explosion in a Manila shopping mall that killed 11 people and wounded more than 100 was unlikely to be caused by a bomb.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said facts and evidence gathered at the scene would support an accidental gas explosion but not totally discarding the bomb blast.
Post your comments on the explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City.
In a report to the National Security Council (NSC)-Cabinet Group meeting in Malacañang Tuesday morning, the October 19 Glorietta blast was a “gas explosion” and not a terrorist bombing as earlier feared.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo convened the high-level meeting among Congress leaders, members of the Cabinet and top military, police and security officials for wide-ranging discussions on the Glorietta incident.
Southern Police District Director Luizo Ticman in his power point presentation on the Glorietta blast, told the NSC-Cabinet Group that bomb experts from the US and Australia have been helping the PNP in the investigation of the explosion.
Ticman heads the multi-agency team investigating the Glorietta explosion in Makati City.
He said the investigators’ theory of a gas explosion was based on their findings that the blast left no crater, there were no signs of tearing effect from bomb explosion, there was no soot or blackening on the concave ceiling, no IED compound (bomb ingredient) was found, and laboratory test results were negative for explosive ingredients.
Ticman explained that police investigators were pursuing the gas explosion theory because of the upward ruptures and damage on the diesel tank, concave concrete slab directly above the diesel tank, presence of septic tanks and waste-water treatment facilities that produce methane.
He added that there was also no functioning ventilation, and no exhaust system, giving rise to increase in temperature, and accumulation of diesel vapor/fumes, the presence of open switches, motor pumps, batteries and other possible igniters, and the vent of explosion clearly showed strong upward push which characterize gas explosion.
“And petrochemical experts also examined the layout of the fuel tank, the diesel tank and their findings indicated that it did not follow the standard cylindrical structure that would cause an evenly distribution of pressure,” said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Geary Barias.
But Ernesto dela Cruz, a chemical engineering professor at the University of the Philippines, told reporters a mix of diesel and methane gas would result in fire, not an explosion.
"You need to heat diesel up to 200 centigrade to vaporize the fuel and make it explode," dela Cruz said on local radio, adding methane by itself would not explode unless something set it off.
Barias said: “So at this time, our multi-agency task force has sought the expertise of metallurgic forensics experts to conduct further inspection in the area and also, it has sought the assistance of technical people from the Department of Energy and some experienced mechanical engineers from reputable private companies to assist us in the investigation for the possible cause of explosion.”
“At this point in time, we are still awaiting the result of their findings. Included in the multi-agency task force are Australian and US investigators who are giving us technical assistance to support these (initial) findings of the Task Force that I am reading,” he said.
But the President pointed out that “even if it was an accident, the event made us more conscious to act on terrorism… and strengthen our counter-terrorism (measures).”
She also asked Ticman to clarify whether “RDX,” a bomb ingredient, is “found in nature” and if it has “non-lethal uses.” The initial report on the cause of the blast said RDX traces were found at the site of the blast.
The RDX finding was attributed to a chemist of the PNP crime laboratory.
But the police explained that as an active ingredient in aerosols, RDX can be found even in aerosol deodorants.
Experts said RDX is not an explosive it is a propellant so the findings are not inconsistent with the initial findings of the bomb data center. They said there are in fact civilian commercial uses of RDX and presence of RDX does not in itself indicate a possibility of intentional explosion.
The Anti-Terrorism Task Force also reported to the NSC-Cabinet Group that it has drafted a legislative proposal that would make possession of explosives non-bailable, and that the President’s advice was to “submit it to our legislators.”
PNP Chief Razon said elements of the NCRPO and Special Action Force (SAF) were “still on the ground” intensifying police visibility, strengthening choke points, conducting checkpoints, and intensifying intelligence gathering as part of the security measures in Metro Manila.
Closure
Experts who inspected the shopping mall recommended the closure of Glorietta 2, but Razon said they leave the matter to the Makati City Engineers Office to decide on it.
He said they have recommended to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as well as the engineering departments of local government units to conduct inspections on the different buildings in their respective locality.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno at the same time said after the Glorietta incident all buildings are going to be inspected again by an interagency task force and also by the BFP to ensure that this will not happen because previously, safety inspections were limited to fire hazards, structural hazards and so on.
“This is a situation where a confluence of different structures which independently might be harmless, when brought together constitute a threat to public safety is seen. So we are going to have to renew the standards for public safety inspections to include things like this when a confluence of different structures that in themselves might be harmless when put together might constitute a danger to the public,” Puno added.
Security council meeting
President Arroyo met security advisers on Tuesday to discuss the explosion. She invited former President Fidel Ramos and leaders of the two houses of Congress to the meeting.
The President said even if investigation on the Glorietta explosion is still ongoing still there is a need to strengthen the country’s security including the police and military capability to maintain peace and order.
Arroyo ordered the Cabinet group to report all measures taken in ensuring security, human rights, fight against poverty, and economic stability.
Puno said the President in the same council meeting instructed to leave no stone unturned and to keep investigating everything and a list of all of the actions that will be taken after the completion of this report.
“So if it is accidental, what steps need to be taken to prevent such accidents in the future. In the remote possibility, remote now, that it was actually an explosion intentionally caused by terrorists, what precautions can be taken,” Puno said.
RSM ruled out
Police at the same time ruled out the participation of terror group, Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) in the Glorietta 2 blast.
Director Barias said RSM has been rendered inactive after four of its top officials were captured by the authorities.
A person claiming to be Sheik Omar, RSM spokesman, sent a text message to a television network over the weekend claiming the group is behind the Glorietta bombing.
However, a follow-up on the message, the call was diverted to the office of militant group Bayan.
Representative Teddy Casino (Partylist Bayan) said they are asking the telecommunication company to order the holder of the cellphone number to stop diverting calls to their office. (JMR/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (October 24, 2007 issue)
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