Roxas: San Juan blast likely caused by gas leak

MANILA – Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday said the explosion along Wilson Street in San Juan City was likely caused by a gas leak. “Most likely ay gas-induced explosion ito dahil ayon sa EOD at K9, hindi bomba ito. At ang pag-eexamine ng EOD, wala silang nakita na pangkaraniwang nakikita kung IED ito. Malamang ay gas ito,” he told ANC’s “Dateline Philippines”. The explosion happened at around 1 a.m. and damaged a seafood restaurant and a laundry shop. Roxas said authorities are investigating if the leak came from an LPG tank in the restaurant’s kitchen or a gas tank in the laundry shop. The blast injured workers Allan Cabana Mauriel, 46, Julius Asosano, 27, Jaime Arvin Tacdoro, 22, Marlon Urdas, 40, Reynaldo Namura, 30, taxi driver Gabriel Padilla, 45 and security guard Benito Tinio. “’Yung pinakamalubha na na-injure ay nandoon natutulog malapit sa kitchen ng restaurant,” said Roxas. Roxas also said he spoke with several pipeline workers in the area who said they were repairing a pipe when the blast occurred. He said it is possible that the repairs triggered the blast. Roxas added that the incident is not similar to the recent explosion in a condominium unit in Two Serendra because there are no gas pipelines inside the establishments. “Ang mahalaga dito ay alam natin na hindi ito bomba, hindi ito terorismo. Kung nagkaroon nga ng pagsabog, either sa LPG or methane na magmumula sa poso,” he said. The incident also damaged at least eight vehicles and some motorcycles in the area.