Soldier injured in Fort Boni blast dies

MANILA, Philippines - One of the soldiers who were injured during last Wednesday’s blast in Fort Bonifacio died yesterday at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC).

Cpl. Bernabe Mota, 30, passed away at around 10 a.m., leaving behind his wife and daughter, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said.

Mota, who sustained burns during a fire at the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Battalion headquarters, was supposed to be transferred to the East Avenue Medical Center yesterday morning.

Five soldiers are still recovering at the AFPMC while two others have been moved to the East Avenue Medical Center. Four soldiers who were hit by rocks during the blast are also undergoing treatment at the Army General Hospital.

Detoyato said 22 of the 31 survivors had been treated and discharged.

A total of 32 persons, including Mota, were injured due to explosions triggered by a fire that razed the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Battalion at the Army Support Command (ASCOM) headquarters last Wednesday.

Most of the victims sustained minor wounds, three suffered from second-degree burns, while two had lacerated wounds on their faces and arms.  

The fire, which lasted for almost a day, burned the entire battalion headquarters at the ASCOM.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri has visited the explosion site and assured the victims and their families of assistance. 

Detoyato said they are still determining the other circumstances that led to the fire and explosion.

He said the post-blast investigation is being conducted by personnel from the EOD Battalion, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Taguig, and the ASCOM Inspector-General.

There have been plans to transfer the ASCOM to Camp Aquino in Tarlac but the project has yet to undergo bidding.

Black market guns

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles in separate statements said that the deadly blast could have been a deliberate act of sabotage to cover up possible anomalies.

They also expressed dismay over the Army’s negligent handling of its ammunition stores and called on the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to check their armories for possible safety breaches.

Nograles said the Army leadership and the Bureau of Fire Protection should look into the possibility that the fire that hit the ammunition storage facility could be a result of deliberate sabotage amid persistent reports that a lot of government-issued ammunition, firearms and even parts and accessories are being sold in the black market that end up in the hands of rebels, and criminals.

“Certainly, it is now almost impossible to conduct a proper inventory on the firearms, explosives and ammunitions that were destroyed in the blaze and no one would know if something was missing,” Nograles said.

“It is really shocking to learn that our Army has been keeping firearms, ammunitions and even explosives inside buildings that are better off as classrooms and not as armory. I would not be surprised if the facility does not have 24/7 surveillance and has no regular sentry who secures the facility,” he added.

Treñas urged the leadership of the Armed Forces, the PNP and other government agencies that are authorized to store weapons and ammunition to conduct a thorough inventory.