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TIRED of
the perceived confusion that may or may not be
deliberate in the investigation of the Glorietta blast
that killed 11 people and injured over 100 others,
businessmen took the initiative on Wednesday and created
an independent commission to conduct its own “impartial
and credible” investigation.
In
announcing their initiative, members of the Makati
Business Development Council (MBDC) also considered
themselves as “stakeholders in a credible
investigation.”
Police
earlier said they believe the blast was accidental and
resulted from an explosion of methane and diesel fuel at
the basement, while mall owner Ayala Land Inc. disputed
this theory, though avoiding to say explicitly it was
caused by an explosive device. Both camps claimed they
tapped foreign experts in tracing the cause of the
blast.
Already,
an independent commission has been pitched by Mayor
Jejomar Binay of Makati after he returned from a
Scouting congress in Japan two days after the
explosion.
The
business council said in a statement that read in part:
“Since we live and do business in Makati, any major
incident in our city affects us, too, whether Filipinos
or foreigners. It is for this reason that we decided to
take it upon ourselves to organize a commission on the
Glorietta 2 incident.”
They are
concerned about the speculations on the cause of the
explosion because they only heighten the confusion and
uncertainty in the public mind and the business
community at large, and could adversely affect doing
business in Makati. “Aside from these, it could also
influence international perceptions of the Philippines
as a destination for investors.”
It added
that “as of this date, there appears to be little in the
way of a conclusive finding, or anything that would
indicate a definitive conclusion, into the cause of the
explosion.”
The
council added: “What [have] transpired are public
statements emanating from different agencies and groups
that are basically contradictory to each other in
nature. Sadly, these statements further add to the
confusion and uncertainty. They also tend to cast doubts
on the veracity and integrity of the investigative
process.”
MBDC
groups all business entities in the city, including the
mall’s owner and the Makati Business Club, but neither
participated in the hourlong discussions. Foreign
business organizations are also represented in the MBDC.
Brian
Lane, who represented the American Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and chairs the MBDC’s committee on public
safety, said the probe body will buckle down to work
immediately to be able to finish its investigation
before Christmas and will make its findings available to
the public.
He said
that even if the government interagency task force
completed its probe, they would still continue their own
investigation.
Lane
said those who will compose the technical and management
team would be named next week, as well as the funding
sources, though in most likelihood it would come from
contributions of the members “to erase speculation that
we might be beholden to any of the parties concerned
with the incident—not even the mayor.”
Although
he praised the formation of the businessmen’s
independent probe body, Mayor Binay said he would
“dissociate” himself from the body out of “delicadeza”
and to dispel any speculation the body is beholden to
him. |
