Six killed in Valenzuela ’cracker factory explosion

At least six people, one of them a nine-year-old boy, were burned to death while another was wounded during an explosion in an illegal firecracker factory in Valenzuela City Wednesday night.

The fatalities were the first to die this year in a firecracker-related accident, prompting authorities to crack down on illegal firecrackers and unlawful acts practiced during the traditional New Year revelry.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced it will set up checkpoints in strategic areas leading to Metro Manila to check the flow of illegal firecrackers which proliferate in the metropolis at the turn of the year.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles also warned that persons caught burning tires in the open during the New Year celebrations will be charged with violation of the Clean Air Act of 1999.

The DENR made the warning to help reduce the emission of toxic gases from tires and firecrackers.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, for his part, ordered the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office to be very strict in issuing permits to those who wish to sell firecrackers.

"There is an apparent laxity in the issuance of permits to vendors of firecrackers," Lim said, admitting that such laxity may have been one of the causes of the Valenzuela explosion.

Lim also ordered the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to conduct a thorough investigation into the Valenzuela explosion.

Meanwhile, police identified the Valenzuela fatalities as Herminia Rivera, 62, her son Eduardo Rivera, 37, daughter Julieta, 30, and grandson Ron-ron, 9, all of 249 Navarrette st., Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City

Two other victims, who died while being treated in a hospital, were identified as Rufino Santiago, 42, and Alexander Santiago, both of 167 Custodio st., Barangay Santolan, Malabon.

The lone survivor was identified as Crisologo Cabrera who sustained a large wound but was declared out of danger and discharged from the Valenzuela General Hospital.

Valenzuela police chief Superintendent Nemesio Neron said the explosion occurred at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday as the two Santiagos were shopping for some firecrackers.

Witnesses said the two men were drunk and were smoking cigarettes as they were shopping for firecrackers from the Rivera residence which has reportedly been illegally making and selling firecrackers for the past 30 years.

Police prober SPO4 Jess Saguisi said that Herminia Rivera was shocked to see the two smoking inside the house which was filled with hundreds of pieces of assorted firecrackers.

She ordered them to extinguish their cigarettes but one of the two men unconsciously threw his cigarette at a pile of firecrackers, causing the explosion which also destroyed two nearby houses, Saguisi added.

The Valenzuela fatalities were among the 155 cases of firecracker-related injuries reported to the Department of Health since Dec. 21.

To support the DOH’s "Oplan Iwas Paputok," Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay said a number of uniformed policemen and mobile cars will be posted in key areas to prevent traders from flooding the metropolis with illegal firecrackers.

In his directive to Northern Police District chief Senior Superintendent Marlowe Pedregoza, Aglipay tagged the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela and the towns of Malabon and Navotas as the possible entry points of illegal firecrackers.

"There should be more policemen deployed in these entry points to Metro Manila from Bulacan province because it is where the main bulk of the firecracker shipments originate," Aglipay said.

He ordered the five Metro Manila district directors to intensify their campaign against firecrackers which had already been delivered to Metro Manila buyers.

"We should spare no one in our campaign to lessen the number of casualties in the New Year celebration," Aglipay added.

Meanwhile, Cerilles yesterday warned that people caught burning tires in the open will face fours imprisonment plus a P10,000 fine for violating the Clean Air Law.

"I urge officials of the local government units (from barangay to city officials) to help us sound off this warning to their constituencies and we encourage responsible residents to file complaints against violators," Cerilles said.

He explained that burning tires and pyrotechnics cause the emission of sulfur dioxide, heavy metals and their oxides which are harmful to the environment.

Sulfur dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases, a heavy, pungent, corrosive and toxic gas that condenses easily into a colorless liquid, he said.

"The pollution from burning tires and pyrotechnics is further aggravated during the cold season where a thermal inversion is created," Cerilles added.

He said that in a thermal inversion, emissions are trapped close to the ground instead of normally rising to 10,000 feet and aggravates air pollution. - With reports from Non Alquitran, Jose Rodel Clapano, Ella Oducayen, Cecille Suerte Felipe