Army chief Lieutenant Normal Romeo Brawner says the investigation will likely be carried out rigorously and in phases because of security considerations
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Army authorities vowed a “clear” probe into the hearth that triggered a sequence of highly effective explosions on the ammunition dump of Camp Evangelista within the wee hours of Tuesday, July 12.
Army chief Lieutenant Normal Romeo Brawner advised a information convention in Cagayan de Oro that the investigation must be carried out rigorously and in phases because of security considerations.
At first look, Brawner mentioned, all the security procedures on the ammunition dump have been enough, however an intensive investigation nonetheless wanted to be finished.
“We will likely be wanting if there have been lapses within the implementation of the security procedures,” Brawner mentioned.
He mentioned the Army’s Board of Inquiry will begin wanting into the hearth incident on Wednesday.
Brawner promised that the investigation can be clear and that the outcomes can be identified to the town authorities.
“We would like this to be clear, and so, we will likely be inviting different stakeholders to the BOI, together with the BFP, the PNP, the native authorities items, together with the barangays,” he mentioned.
Brawner mentioned damages to close by institutions have been comparatively minimal, attributing it to the ammunition dump’s location.
Main Normal Wilbur Mamawag, 4th ID commander, mentioned the BFP had given the burned ammunition dump a hearth security clearance in March.
The ammunition dump, one in all 10 journal bunkers beneath the tenth Ahead Service Help Unit, is in a sparsely positioned part of the Army camp.
Chemical response?
Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Sta. Maria, commander of the Army’s tenth Ahead Service Help Unit, mentioned on Tuesday afternoon that an explosive ordnance disposal group would wish at the least seven days to gather and get better the unexploded ammunition.
“From at the moment (July 12), there will likely be a 24-hour soaking and cooling interval. There was a hearth and this must be cooled first earlier than our EOD specialists can are available,” Sta. Maria mentioned.
The army requested specialists from the police and the Bureau of Fireplace Safety (BFP) to assist in the preliminary investigation, however they will solely are available after the world has been cleared.
Army authorities theorized {that a} chemical response sparked the hearth.
“If gunpowder is uncovered in a sure surroundings, it might end in a chemical response and instability,” mentioned Sta. Maria on Tuesday afternoon.
The fireplace at Journal No. 5 inside Camp Evangelista’s ammo advanced began the highly effective explosions and despatched large fireballs to the sky previous midnight Tuesday. The army mentioned hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been saved inside it.
Sta. Maria mentioned the idea was primarily based on the statements given by troopers who first noticed the primary explosions.
The fireplace destroyed an estimated P27 million in Army property, brought on evacuations, and resulted in accidents.
The 4th Infantry Division mentioned three civilian residents on the camp – Reynard Quirweca, Acolbay Escalante, and 15-year-old Curt Angelo Cuizon – suffered minor accidents.
The army mentioned it additionally counted 327 individuals or 61 households who fled from their houses to hunt shelter within the Camp Evangelista health club following the beginning of the sequence of thunderous explosions.
Officers mentioned one other 100 households evacuated to a public facility owned by Barangay Patag.
Journal No. 5 saved 155-mm howitzer rounds and different ammunition for army items beneath the 4th ID.
Officers cordoned off the burned ammunition dump and declared areas inside a 500-meter radius off-limits to the general public because of security considerations, saying the clearing operations within the aftermath of the hearth and explosions might take days and even weeks to finish. – Rappler.com
