Serendra unit owner fears coverup - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The family of Marianne Cayton, the US-based businesswoman who owns the blast-hit Unit 501-B of the Two Serendra condominium, said they are sensing a possible cover-up of the incident because of the apparent slow pace of the probe.

"Marianne will await the results of the investigation before exploring her legal options. But she is frustrated by the slow pace. That is why she is fearful of a cover-up because the longer the investigation takes, the more possibility that the outcome can be altered to favor a concerned party," Fortun told the Star.

Fortun added that the family of unit tenant Angelito San Juan, a close friend of the Caytons, is also waiting for the probe to finish before taking legal action.

"It (legal action) would be premature in the absence of the investigation results. Legal action has not been discussed for now," said Fortun.

San Juan, 63, died at 12:20 a.m. on Thursday at the intensive care unit of St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) where he was being treated for second-degree burns on 85 percent of his body which he sustained when the unit exploded on May 31, because of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) explosion.

Fortun said San Juan succumbed to multiple organ failure. The victim was not able to execute a formal statement on what had happened before the explosion that ripped through Unit 501-B.

Fortun said San Juan was never sufficiently lucid to answer questions and give any statement since he was rushed to the intensive care unit of the SLMC shortly after the blast. San Juan suffered from second degree burns on 85 percent of his body.

"At no time po naging sufficiently lucid po s'ya o gising para makakuha po ng magandang salita from him," said Fortun.

Cayton allowed San Juan to use the unit from May 31 to June 8 because he was supposed to attend a wedding.

According to Fortun, San Juan last spoke to Herminia Ochoa, aunt of Mariane and told her that he was going out of the unit some five minutes after the condo unit was hit by the blast.

Fortun said San Juan, a software architect for a car manufacturer in California, said that before the blast, he was holding on to the doorknob and felt as if he was being electrocuted.

"Ang talagang last po na report tungkol dito doon sa pangyayari ay yun pong kanyang naisiwalat kay Herminia Ochoa nung pong mga 5 or 10 minutes after the blast at sinabi nya po is palabas po sya nung unit. Hawak lang niya yung doornob and bigla po nagkaroon ng pagsabog at naramdaman nya na parang nakukuryente sya," Fortun said.

Fortun said San Juan's supposedly normal movement inside the condo unit - such as walking on the carpeted floor which could produce static electricty, to rotating the doorknob or even turning off the light switch - could have triggered the blast.

Fortun added that there is enough evidence at the blast site to piece together the sequence of events leading to the blast.

San Juan's remains were brought to the Evergreen Chapel and Crematory in Pasig City.

Fortun said Ayala Land helped foot San Juan's hospital bills through an account from Alveo Land which is an affiliate of Ayala Land Inc.

According to Fortun, a wake will be held until Sunday. San Juan's remains will then be flown to the United States either on Sunday or Monday.

"The wake will be until Sunday. Depending on clearance from Customs, the body will be flown to the US either on Sunday or Monday," said Fortun.