Carlos donates P40,000 to ’cracker blast victims

Valenzuela City Mayor Emmanuel "Bobbit" Carlos donated yesterday P40,000 to the family of four constituents who died in a firecracker factory explosion Wednesday night in Arkong Bato, Valenzuela.

Carlos, however, excluded two other victims – Rufino Santiago and Alexander Santiago, both of 167 Custodio St., Barangay Santolan, Malabon – from the cash aid.

"They were not included because people blamed them for the incident," Jess Julio, of the mayor’s staff, said.

At least six people died when an illegal firecracker factory exploded last Wednesday night at 249 Navarrette st., Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City.

The explosion occurred at about 9 p.m. when two drunken men, later identified as the Santiagos, reportedly were shopping for some firecrackers at the house owned by one of the fatalities, Herminia Rivera, 62.

The two shoppers were allegedly smoking, so Rivera ordered the Santiagos to extinguish their cigarettes, but one of them unconsciously threw it at a pile of firecrackers, triggering a powerful blast that also destroyed two other houses.

Rivera’s son, Eduardo, 37, her daughter Julieta, 30, and her nine-year-old grandson Ron-ron, all died in the explosion.

Carlos also ordered yesterday Superintendent Nemesio Neron, Valenzuela City police chief, to crackdown on suspected illegal firecracker factories and arrest those selling banned firecrackers.

The Riveras were reportedly illegally manufacturing and selling firecrackers for the past 30 years, the main source of income of most Arkong Bato residents. –Pete Laude