Tanker driver, owner deny blame for explosion

The driver and owner of the tanker that exploded along the Nagtahan flyover Wednesday evening appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday afternoon to deny any liability for the incident that caused the death of a businessman and destruction of 12 vehicles.

NBI-Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD) Head Agent Romulo Asis said tanker driver Leonardo Benamir, 53, and Lourdes Baldonado, 77, owner of BG Hauler Corp. were accompanied by lawyer Florante Dris.

They went to the NBI to deny news reports that the 10-wheeler oil tanker (PXT-482) was defective and that Benamir allegedly allowed the pilferage of gasoline.

Baldonado also said he has been driving for 20 years and this is the first time he is involved in a road accident. He said the company’s motor pool also checks the condition of the tankers before they are allowed to travel.

Investigators earlier reported that the tanker driven by Benamir left the Shell oil depot in Pandacan, Manila City at around 3:43 p.m. and that it took him six hours to reach Nagtahan flyover, where the incident happened, raising speculation that he was engaged in oil pilferage.

But Dris told Asis and case officer Special Investigator 4 Romeo Cotingjo that there was no pilferage, and that a global positioning system locator attached to the tanker allows Shell to monitor the tanker’s whereabouts.

Benamir said he found the tanker had a tire problem at around 4 p.m., and the firm’s mechanic arrived at past 6 p.m. By this time, however, a truck ban was in effect and would only be lifted by 9 p.m.

When Benamir reached the valley between Nagtahan bridge and Nagtahan flyover, he reportedly passed a pothole and began hearing an unfamiliar noise from the rear of the tanker. As he was descending the Nagtahan flyover he stopped and got out of the vehicle and noticed a leak in one of the drainpipes.

Benamir claimed that as he signaled oncoming vehicles to stop, he saw a truck ahead of him accelerating its engine. He said this might have created the spark that triggered the Toyota Altis driven by Melencio Aquino to catch fire and cause the tanker, which was beside the Altis, to explode.

The explosion killed Aquino but his wife, Jemma, was able to get out of the vehicle.

Baldonado assured Benamir that she would support him in the case filed against him. She also said their insurance would cover the damage sustained by 11 other vehicles in the explosion.