2 men making blasting caps killed in blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two men fabricating blasting caps for fishermen here and in Sulu were killed in a blast that ripped through a slum community this city on Monday, authorities said.

Chief Superintendent Mario Yanga, officer-in-charge of the city police, said the explosion that occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Monday in Sitio Tabuk, Barangay San Jose Gusu killed a certain Alji on the spot while his companion, Alfahad Diminsil, died later in the hospital.

The two fatalities, who hailed from Jolo, Sulu, arrived in this city Saturday and stayed in a relative’s house where they fabricated the blasting caps.

“We got information that the two were engaged in fabricating blasting caps and trading these (in exchange for) marine products from fishermen,” Yanga said. 

Senior Inspector Cesar Memoracion, head of the local explosive ordnance disposal unit, said the chemical used in the blasting caps being fabricated by the two was sensitive that it could ignite even with exposure to sunlight.

“Based on our examination, a small amount of exposure of the chemical to sunlight or any static signal can cause a reaction,” Memoracion said.