Warehouse with ammo, explosives cache padlocked

The city government of Valenzuela padlocked yesterday a warehouse that firefighters earlier found storing some 30 crates of ammunition and explosives as a result of a fire that broke out over the weekend.

Police also filed criminal charges against Kedin Go Cedenio of Stronghand Inc., which has offices at Roces Avenue corner Scout Santiago street in Quezon City and at Nelicom Compound in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City, on Wednesday before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian issued the closure order last Wednesday after Cedenio was found violating Rule 20 of the Fire Code of the Philippines (no safety inspection certificate), the City Tax Code (no business permit), and PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294 (illegal manufacture, possession, distribution and sale of ammunition and explosives). 

City legal officer Vic Bonaobra III said they are still studying the warehouse lessee’s accountability and readying charges against Cedenio who is yet to be arrested.

The order was served at noon yesterday by the Business Compliance Task Force composed of  Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) chief Senior Inspector Angelo Tamayo, city fire marshal Superintendent Agapito Nacario, city information officer Marither Menia, and city business officials.

As this developed, Gatchalian asked the police to immediately extract the ammunition and explosives from the area.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, city police chief, said they have coordinated with the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Division at Camp Crame for the immediate and safe transfer and disposal of the seized ammunition.      – Jerry Botial