The explosion that rocked a unit in Two Serendra on May 31 was not
caused by a bomb, Department of the Interior and Local Government
Secretary (DILG) Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said Friday.
In a press conference on Friday, Roxas said all signs point to gas
explosion, likely from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as the cause of
the blast which damaged Unit 501B of Two Serendra in Bonifacio Global
City in Taguig.
Roxas said all nine K-9 units from different handlers did not find any bomb residue during the course of the investigation.
"Talagang sinuyod ito ng mga aso at wala silang nakitang residue or presence of explosive materials," he said.
Likewise, the result of walk throughs by various investigators from
the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) found no traces of a bomb.
Roxas explained that the PNP, which conducted the first walkthrough
after the exhaustive surveys of the K-9 units, did not find any bomb
component at the blast site.
"Iyung buong grounds nilakad nila, may arms-length distance para
walang mamintis na bagay.
Tinitignan ang dinadaaan nila at tsaka yung
grounds mismo at wala silang nakita na bomb component gaya ng shrapnel,
blasting caps o timers na commonly nakikita kung bomba ang pagsabog," he
said.
A swab test conducted by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO)
from all the concrete slabs that were thrown off the unit were negative
for any bomb residue.
Roxas said the swabs were tested using Gas Chromatography Mass
Spectrophotometer which can detect RDX, PETN, TNT, TATP and other
organic explosives.
A post-blast investigation conducted by the NBI, meanwhile, checked
the debris and rubble found at the scene. The NBI said no crater or seat
of explosion was found, bolstering the conclusion that a bomb was not
the cause of the blast.
The BFP also conducted an investigation and found out that "despite
the presence of fire, charring and singeing, neither bomb components nor a
crater was found or detected."
Three people died in the blast after a concrete slab fell on a nearby delivery van.
LPG caused the blast
Roxas said the findings point to a gas explosion, with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the possible culprit.
The Two Serendra condominium uses a centralized piped-in LPG system.
However, Roxas said that at this point, what triggered the gas
explosion has yet to be established, with the condominium occupant
Angelito San Juan still unable to speak, and a deeper investigation
still ongoing.
"Hindi natin masasagot iyan hanggang matapos yung imbestigasyon natin na more science than police work," Roxas said.
David said that an analysis of the blast revealed that the explosion was most likely caused by combustion or reaction of chemical substances (gases).
He said the following explosion characteristics were observed at the Serendra blast site:
1. Minimal post explosion residue
2. No blast cratering
3. Instantaneously dissipated flame
4. Minimal charring
5. Powerful and widespread pressure wave
6. Almost instantaneous explosion covering a large area
Earlier, it was also reported that renovations were made inside the unit. However, Roxas said it has not been established whether the renovation contributed to the blast.
