Soldier injured in Fort Bonifacio blast dies

MANILA, Philippines - One of the soldiers who were injured during Wednesday’s blast in Fort Bonifacio died Friday at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC).

 Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said the victim, identified as Cpl. Bernabe Mota, 30, passed away at around 10 a.m., leaving behind his wife and his daughter.

 Mota, who sustained burns during the fire at the Explosive Ordnance Battalion headquarters, was supposed to be transferred to the East Ave. Medical Center Friday morning.

 Five soldiers are still recovering at the AFPMC along V. Luna, Quezon City while two others have been moved to the East Ave, Medical Center. Four soldiers who were hit by rocks are also undergoing treatment at the Army General Hospital.

 Detoyato said 22 of the 31 survivors  had been treated and had been discharged.

 A total of 32 persons, including Mota, were injured due to explosions triggered by a fire that razed the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Battalion at the Army Support Command (ASCOM) headquarters last Wednesday.

Most of the victims sustained minor wounds, three suffered from second degree burns, while two had lacerated wounds on their faces and arms.  

The fire, which lasted for almost a day, burned the entire Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion Headquarters at the ASCOM. 

Detoyato said  they are still determining the other circumstances that led to the fire and explosion.

He said the post-blast investigation is being conducted by personnel from the EOD Battalion, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Taguig, and the ASCOM Inspector-General.

 There have been plans to transfer the ASCOM to Camp Aquino in Tarlac but the project has yet to undergo bidding. –  with reports from Ronald Mendoza and Alvin Perez