Cigarette seen as cause of firecracker factory explosion
Four family members were killed after their house that sheltered firecrackers and its components exploded Sunday afternoon at Brgy. Mohon, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Josefina Gallena, 82, and her grandchildren Ruther, 15, and Rodessa, 19, were instantly killed while her son, Rodrigo, 49, died while under treatment at Western Visayas Medical Center.
Aside from the four fatalities, the explosion also injured nine others.
Wounded were Rodrigo’s wife, 48-year old Hermesa; their youngest child, 8-year old Angelo Gabriel; and their neighbors Tommy Allana, 26; Jose Allen Rey Fernandez, 30; Teresa Donquines, 29; Renerio Caturias, 23; Cecilia Gabriel, 50; Maricar Velez, 26; and Gerard Velez, 29.
Aside from Rodrigo’s home, the house of his brother Ruben was also totally destroyed.
The explosion also partially damaged the house of Rino Tumolto.
Arevalo Police Station chief Senior Insp. Eliezer Baclagon said that several houses also incurred minor damages.
It was at around 5:00 p.m. of Sunday when the whole village was rocked with a loud blast.
The explosion was even heard by residents living in several villages in the area.
After the smoke was cleared, several residents rushed to the area to check.
They were appalled after seeing that two the houses of their two neighbors were leveled up.
Worse, they saw several charred body and bloodied individuals in the area.
According to Jonathan de la Cruz, he immediately tried to rescue the survivors.
“Ang isa na lang gid ka bata ang nakarga ko,” he said referring to Angelo Gabriel who suffered head injuries.
The child, fortunately, was playing at a neighbor’s house when the incident happened. He is now under treatment at the Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital.
De la Cruz claimed that nothing could be saved from the three fatalities.
The victims were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Couple Rodrigo and Hermesa were initially brought to Iloilo Saviour International Hospital.
At around 11:00 p.m., they were transferred to Western Visayas Medical Center where Rodrigo was declared dead on arrival.
His wife is on critical condition due to third degree burns.
Cigarette smoking
Allana, who works with Gallena, told investigators that they decided to have some drinks while enjoying videoke since it was a Sunday, their day off.
He claimed that they were rushing some firecrackers for delivery from Monday until Saturday.
Allana could not exactly point out what caused the fire but claimed to have seen Rodrigo lighting a cigarette prior to the explosion.
“May nabati-an dayon sya nga nagsirit. So, it’s possible that the cigarette fell off from Rodrigo’s fingers,” Senior Insp. Baclagon said.
Allana claimed that he was not killed nor badly injured, as he managed to scamper for safety.
Licensed
For now, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Iloilo City is yet to disclose the result of their investigation on what happened.
Just like the PNP’s probe, arson investigator FO1 Rolen Hormina claimed that a lighted cigarette may have caused the fire.
But they could not assess the amount of ingredients and firecrackers destroyed during the incident.
Meanwhile, under Republic Act 7183 or Firecrackers Law, approved on January 30, 1992 by then President Corazon Aquino, regulates and controls the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices consistent with, and in furtherance of, public safety, order and national security, as well as the enhancement of the cultural traditions.
Hormina said that the PNP is the one giving our certificates and licenses to firecracker manufacturers.
Relatedly, Baclagon said that Rodrigo was licensed to manufacture firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
“When I checked manufacturers in Arevalo last December for their licenses, he managed to present me one. But he still violated the law because it is prohibited to manufacture or store firecrackers and pyrotechnics inside your home,” he added noting that the Gallena home was made of light materials.
Information claimed that the Gallenas earned income by being paid as laborers.
Someone else offered them a capital and commissioned them to produce firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
As this developed, reports said that a wake for the four victims will be held at a relative’s house in Brgy. Mohon.
The Gallena couple has five children.
Ruther was a high school student while Rodessa was an incoming fourth year BS Information Technology student of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.
Their two other siblings, it was gathered, work in Metro Manila.
