Carbon monoxide claim in Serendra blast 'defies belief'

MANILA, Philippines - The possibility that the explosion at unit 501-B of the Two Serendra condominium was caused by carbon monoxide “defies belief,” a lawyer of the unit owner said Wednesday.

“Any claims for whatever source that the blast was due to carbon monoxide defies belief. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion, usually from an engine. No such implements exist in Two Serendra," lawyer Raymond Fortun said in a text message.

Fortun represents Marianne Cayton, owner of the condominium building's Unit 501-B.

"Thus, there is no factual basis for the carbon monoxide angle. There is a centralized LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) line however. The findings given by Secretary (Mar) Roxas is more worthy of belief,” Fortun added.

The lawyer also said that inhaled carbon monoxide can only be detected in the lungs if the victim died and the gas was trapped in the respiratory sacs.

Fortun said doctors found no foreign gases on Angelito San Juan, the tenant of the unit who suffered 2nd degree burns in 72 percent of his body.

“The St. Luke’s doctors inserted a device called a broncoscope when Angelito San Juan was admitted. They did not find any foreign gases that could cause damage to the lungs. Again, any foreign gas could have been expelled from the body within five minutes of regular breathing by the patient,” he said.

Cayton had said in her sworn statement given to the police that the renovation work on the unit was for the addition of another bedroom and did not touch the kitchen or the gas lines.

“Special mention is made herein that the renovation did NOT involve any changes to the kitchen area, including the stove and the sink, nor did it involve a relocation of any existing gas lines, nor were there any works made therein where the existing gas lines would be affected in any way,” said Cayton in her statement.

Cayton added that the renovation work was approved by the Serendra management, which she said had “full authority and supervision over the approval of plans and the inspection of ongoing works.”

“If, from the plans submitted, there was the possibility of gas lines being hit by reason of the renovation works, Serendra management would have disapproved the same. By approving the plans, it is implied that Serendra management had NO concerns of any gas lines being affected by the intended renovations,” she said in her statement.

“Serendra management had full power and authority to conduct spot checks on the ongoing renovation works. Needless to state, at no time during the period April to May 2013 were the works suspended on account of Serendra management’s fear, real or imagined, that gas lines leading to the unit would be affected,” Cayton added.

Cayton in her statement also reassured probers of her full cooperation in order to complete the investigation into the cause of the explosion.