Ayala Land cooperating with probe on Serendra blast

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Land Inc. on Monday said it is fully cooperating with the government investigation on the explosion that occurred at a condominium unit at its upscale development Two Serendra.

Antonino Aquino, president of Ayala Land, said the company immediately attended to the casualties and affected residents of Two Serendra. The affected residents are billeted at Ayala's Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City until they can move back in their homes.

Aquino also said Ayala Land is assisting and cooperating fully with the government investigation.

On Friday evening, an explosion occurred at unit 501 of building B at Two Serendra in Bonifacio Global City. Debris from the blast killed three persons on board a delivery van passing through McKinley Parkway, while four Serendra residents were injured. The cause of the blast has not yet been determined.

Investors appeared spooked by the incident, as shares of Ayala Land fell by as much as 7.6% on Monday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Two Serendra tenant still in ICU

MANILA - Authorities can’t still get an interview from Angelito San Juan, the tenant affected by a blast at a unit in Two Serendra on Friday.

San Juan, who was leasing unit 501 of the posh condominium, remains in the intensive care unit of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said.

San Juan, a key figure in the probe, is already undergoing a background check, Roxas said.

Roxas said they could not pinpoint yet the reason behind the blast, which led to the deaths of three persons. Five others, including San Juan, were injured.

The fatalities were men on board a passing Abenson delivery van, which was crushed by large chunks of concrete that fell from the building. They were identified as Salvador Natividad, driver of the van, and Jeffrey Umali and Marlon Bandola, both passengers.

The four other injured victims were identified as Allen Poole, resident of condo unit 683, and passersby 9-year-old Louise Lorenzo, Janine Nicole Bondoc and 19-year-old April Joy Garcia.

Ayala Land said a certain George Cayton owns unit 501, which was rented out to San Juan on May 31. – from a report by Dennis Datu, dzMM

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cause of Two Serendra explosion still unknown

No triggering device found

Condo occupant complained of suffocation

MANILA, Philippines -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday said authorities have yet to identify what caused the explosion that hit Two Serendra condominium at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Friday night.

During a press briefing on Saturday morning, Roxas said no triggering device was found at the site.

He added bomb-sniffing dogs from three different teams -- the Southern Police District (SPD), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and Philippine Army -- did not register "positive" indications that the blast was caused by a bomb.

But Roxas clarified the groups investigating the incident are not yet ruling out anything.

"Hindi pa natin sinasabi na hindi ito bomba pero ito factual ito, masasabi natin na dun sa tatlong teams ng bomb-sniffing dogs na yun, hindi sila nagregister ng pag-amoy ng fumes or residue na nagmumula sa mga pangkaraniwang bomba," he said.

"Sa ngayon hindi pa natin masasabi kung ano ang sanhi ng pagsabog na ito," he added.

He said the occupant at condo unit 501, where the blast reportedly occurred, had complained of suffocation before the incident.

The occupant was identified as Angelito San Juan. He is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) at St. Luke's Medical Center Global City after sustaining burns.

The interior secretary said investigators also found burn marks in unit 306, which was one floor below San Juan's unit. There is no fourth floor at the Two Serendra building.

"Inaalam pa kung umakyat ang apoy o bumaba ang apoy," Roxas said.

Authorities also found a used fire extinguisher in unit 506, which was on the same floor as unit 501.

Roxas said, "Pero di pa natin masabi kung nagamit ito before the explosion na naging sanhi o contributor sa explosion o nagamit ito after the explosion na umabot sa Unit 506."

Victims identified

The blast, which occurred at around 8 p.m. Friday, resulted to the deaths of three people. Five others, including San Juan, were wounded.

The fatalities were men on board a passing Abenson delivery van which was crushed by large chunks of concrete that fell from the building.

They were identified as Salvador Natividad, driver of the van, and Jeffrey Umali and Marlon Bandola, both passengers.

The four other injured victims were identified as Allen Poole, resident of condo unit 683, and passersby 9-year-old Louise Lorenzo, Janine Nicole Bondoc and 19-year-old April Joy Garcia.

Poole, who sustained injuries from shattered glass brought about by the explosion, and Garcia are still seeking treatment at St. Luke's Medical Center.

Lorenzo and Bonjoc, who sustained multiple minor injuries, were already discharged from the hospital last night.

Two Serendra building was fully evacuated after the explosion.

Roxas said, "Humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa mga residente pero ang inyong kaligtasan ang siyang sinisiguro dito kaya hindi muna kayo pababalikin hanggang masiguro nila lahat ng itong mga connection sa electrical, tubig, gas ay sigurado."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com