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INVESTIGATORS declared on Thursday that the explosion
that rocked Glorietta 2 mall in Makati on October 19,
killing 11 persons and injuring several others, was
caused by gas and not by explosives.
“The
task force that conducted the investigation on the
Glorietta 2 explosion concluded and declared that the
incident was not a bomb explosion but a gas explosion,”
said Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, commander of the
multiagency task force tasked to lead the investigation
into the tragedy.
The
conclusion was based on findings gathered by the task
force that included the absence of a crater at the
explosion site, absence of bomb components in the
basement where the explosion emanated, absence of
explosive residue on the victims, and no soot or
blackening on the concave ceiling or on the alleged
craters. The absence of soot and blackening in the blast
site indicates that the explosion was not caused by an
explosive.
“Also,
there was no sign of ‘tearing’ that happens in a bomb
explosion. The appearance of the immediate surroundings
in the blast site did not show any tearing effect from a
bomb explosion,” Ticman said.
As for
the alleged presence of RDX (research development
explosive) in the debris recovered from the scene,
Ticman said it was not corroborated by other evidence.
But
Ticman clarified that what he released was just a
progress report, saying
that the final report will be completed in two to three
weeks.
“After
concluding that the incident was not a bomb explosion,
the task force is currently completing the picture on
how the gas explosion happened,” Ticman said.
For his
part, Director Geary Barias, Metro Manila police
commander, said that investigators are still
“consolidating” the evidence to file charges against
those responsible.
He said
the people will who will be held responsible for the
blast will be identified when the final report is
finished.
“Investigators are consolidating the statements,
reports, pieces of evidence and documents needed to file
charges against concerned parties and preparation of the
final report,” he said. |
