Roxas bares final report on condo blast

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II announced yesterday that a gas explosion caused the destruction at a unit in upscale Two Serendra condominium at Bonifacio Global City last May 31.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame, Roxas said the findings were the result of a thorough investigation of the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Kroll Associates Inc.

“The findings (of the two investigative bodies) do not differ,” he said. “It was a gas explosion.” 

However, Raymond Fortun, lawyer of Marianne Cayton, owner of Two Serendra unit, refuted the findings.

In a statement through email, Fortun said gas meter readings from the unit showed that from Feb. 22 to May 24, 2013 showed very minimal consumption of gas between March 20 and April 25, and from April 25 until after the workers renovating the unit had left.

“At 2 p.m. (yesterday) DILG Secretary Mar Roxas held a press conference where he mentioned, among others, that the leak in Unit 501-B was caused by unauthorized movement of gas range (which) caused a detachment of the gas supply hose,” read the statement.

“That it would take the DILG four (4) months to arrive at this conclusion was disheartening enough. That the findings are even contrary to the evidences that Ms. Cayton had willingly given to the DILG is just plain disgusting and borders on ineptitude.”

Roxas said investigators found out that the gas line of the cooking range at Unit 501-B was altered following repairs during the unit renovation that a private contractor had made.

Post-blast investigators noted that the auto shutoff model being used in Two Serendra was open when power is off, which could have triggered gas accumulation in Unit 501-B, he added.

Vaporized gas used at Two Serendra did not emit odorant or foul smell like liquefied petroleum gas, Roxas said.

The IATF and Kroll Associates reports will be submitted to the Department of Justice for evaluation of possible criminal liability of some parties.

Among those possible to be charged with criminal offenses for negligence are the unit owner, the private contractor that made the renovation, Two Serendra Inc., Bonifacio Gas Corp. and Makati Development Corp.

Gas bills

Fortun said Cayton had given copies of her unit’s gas bills from Serendra between Feb. 22 and May 25, 2013 to the inter-agency task force that investigated the blast.

The gas meter readings from Feb. 22 to March 20, 2013 was 4.57 cu.m, he added.

Fortun said from March 20 to Aug. 25, 2014, the reading was from 4.57 cu.m to 4.576 cu.m.

The reading from April 25 to May 25, 2013 was from 4.576 cu.m. to 4.576 cu.m., he added.

Fortun said the renovation works done in Unit 501-B occurred from April 8 to May 21, 2013.

“From the documents, it is clear that there could not have been a leak that may have occurred during the period of renovation,” he said.

In her sworn statement submitted to the Inter-agency task force, Cayton said the renovation of unit 501-B did not touch the kitchen area and gas lines, and that Serendra management was aware of it.

Cayton said the renovation work was for the addition of another bedroom. The explosion on the evening of May 31 occurred two days after the supposed renovation works had been completed, she added.

Cayton said she had contracted C+G Interior Design Studio to make the needed renovations.

She bought the unit in 2007 but the title was only issued to her in 2010, she added.

Cayton said an interior designer from C+G Interior Design Studio prepared the renovation plans, which she had approved.

She then hired an outside contractor to do the renovations, she added.

Cayton said the plans were submitted to the Serendra management, which gave the approval for the project.

“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,” she said.

Cayton said she last visited unit 501-B last May 23 to check on the progress of the renovation job. She then returned to California, she added.

Cayton said while in the US, Angelito San Juan, a family friend, called her up to ask if he could use the unit from May 31 to June 8, 2013 as he would be attending a wedding.

She then instructed San Juan to get in touch with her aunts Alicia Mendez and Herminia Ochoa as they were the ones in possession of the keys to the unit, she added.

In her statement, Cayton said she had no knowledge on how the explosion at her unit happened as she was in the US.

The renovation work could not have been contributory to the explosion as she was informed that no inflammable devices, implements or equipment were there as of May 31, 2013, she added.

Compliant with safety standards

In a statement, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) said it was compliant with benchmark safety standards in Two Serendra.

“While we note the findings in the report relative to the leak detection devices and the unauthorized access to the shutoff valve, we are confident that government regulations and standards have been complied with in the design and operation of Serendra,” read the statement.

“Regarding the proposed improvements in these standards, we will work with the government and adhere to any change in regulations.” 

The conclusion of the investigation will allow the company to fast-track the repairs and restoration of the damaged building so that “the affected residents can return to their units at the soonest possible time,” ALI said. – Jaime Laude, Mike Frialde, Neil Jerome Morales