DILG task force steps into Cavite blast probe

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has stepped into the investigation of the blast in a Cavite fireworks factory that killed seven people and hurt 76 others last Jan. 29.

At least 19 people have remained missing up to now, investigators said.

Police said four bodies were identified yesterday and claimed by their immediate relatives. They were Angelo Francisco, Marlon Rodrin, Diomedes Enano and Clodelio Iso.

IATF officials, who arrived in Cavite yesterday afternoon, told The STAR that they were coordinating with local government agencies which initially handled the blast’s investigation.

“We are now consolidating all the pieces of evidence and reports of police, fire department and even the local government. We hope to determine the cause of the incident as soon as possible,” said one of the IATF officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The IATF is composed of the same group of investigators who painstakingly investigated the explosion at Glorietta 2, Ayala in Makati City that killed 11 persons and wounded 108 others on Oct. 19, 2007.

The official noted that the investigation into the explosion at the compound of the Star Maker fireworks factory is more difficult than that of Glorietta because of its scope.

“In the Glorietta incident, we easily pinpointed the origin of the blast and its cause, here in Star Maker the area is big. We know that there was fireworks powder and witnesses said there were sparks. But we need to know what triggered the sparks,” the official said.

“We hope to finish the investigation as soon as possible,” he told The STAR.

Superintendent Efren Castro, Task Force Star Maker chief, said rescue workers also found at the blast site mutilated bodies belonging to three more persons.

Castro said still missing are Onor Lugami, Belen Rodrigues, Christian Panganiban, Gerardo Amparo Jr., Susan Decillo, and Ericson Layno.

Police believed that the mutilated bodies belong to three of the six persons still missing.

“We have to wait for the result of the tests to identity the bodies,” Castro said.

He noted that of the 76 injured victims, only four remain at the hospital. Ariel Lubigan is still confined at the Korea-Philippine Hospital while Lenavilla Villa remains at the Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital. Two others, Analiza Tadlucop and Arnold Pamilona, are still at the MV Santiago Medical Clinic.

Calabarzon Police director Chief Perfecto Palad said that Task Force Star Maker men were still at the blast site conducting paneling and post blast investigation. – Cecille Suerte Felipe