Cops find it hard to charge ’cracker factory owner

The Rizal police admitted having difficulty prosecuting the owner of a firecracker factory in Binangonan town that burned down the other day, leaving a worker dead and injuring nine others, because the victims refused to file a formal complaint against him.

Senior Superintendent Freddie Panen, Rizal police director, said they tried their best to convince the victims, including the relatives of the lone fatality, Rodelio Manamam, 25, but they all refused to file formal charges against factory owner Manuel Diaz, 54.

"Diaz’s wife and the family talked to the victims ahead of us. They promised to shoulder their hospital expenses and settle the case out of court," Panen said.

In Manamam’s case, Panen said he was a close relative who had been adopted by the Diaz family.

"Manamam’s relatives also refused to file charges against Diaz," he said.

Nevertheless, Panen said they would indict Diaz for violation of Republic Act 7183 or the pyrotechnics law. The offense carries a maximum penalty of aresto mayor or six months to four years in jail, he said.

For the death of Manamam, Panen said they would file a separate case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Diaz.

Panen said they are not gathering affidavits of desistance from the victims so as not to put the Rizal police in a bad light.

Diaz said his workers, including Manamam, were busy manufacturing kuwitis and whistle bomb in his factory along the national road in Barangay Tagpos in Binangonan town when a spontaneous combustion occurred at about 11:40 a.m.

A spark ignited a powerful explosion that shattered the glass window of Diaz’s house several meters away. Glass shards hit the victims, some of whom were passing by the area.

Manamam died while being rushed to the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City.

The fire was put under control an hour later. Damage to property was placed at P4 million. — Non Alquitran