Fire bureau readies charges vs oil firm

The Quezon City Bureau of Protection is set to file criminal charges against oil company Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and the driver of a tanker that accidentally spilled gasoline into a canal in Barangay Holy Spirit early last Sunday. The leak caused an explosion and several fires that injured 39 people and damaged 80 shanties and injured 14 people near a creek.

Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas, Quezon City fire marshal said arson investigators are now getting the statements of residents to back up charges against the respondents.

"We are still in the process of gathering statements and evidence, but we will file the charges as soon as possible," Villegas told The STAR.

He said another team from the BFP-National Capital Region is conducting its own investigation and may take over the investigation anytime.

Initial investigation revealed that the gate valve of the tanker was damaged after being accidentally hit by a hard object, causing it to dump more than 8,000 liters of gasoline into the drainage system and a creek in Barangay Holy Spirit.

At around 5:20 a.m. creek-side houses were rocked by an explosion followed by fire which quickly spread in the area. Yesterday, the area was declared safe by fire officials.

Shell personnel, who assisted fire officials, said no gasoline residues were found at the underground canal yesterday. They will meet with barangay officials and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to determine the extent of the damage caused by the accident.

The company earlier said it would shoulder medical expenses and provide financial assistance to affected residents. — Persues Echeminada