Firecrackers were found to have been the cause of the fire that hit a truck parked at the BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal in Calumpang, Marikina on Sunday morning, said police after an initial investigation into the matter.
According to Eastern Police District (EPD) Director Police Brigadier General Wilson Asueta, firecrackers and combustible materials were found inside the truck.
“Nakita niyo naman, merong mga firecrackers na ebidensya, so nakita natin na ito ay nasa loob, so ito ang cause ng ating sunog ng wing van truck,” he said in Katrina Son’s report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.
(As you saw, there was evidence of firecrackers we saw inside, so this is the cause of the fire that hit the wing van truck.)
Asueta said operatives were looking at the liability of the truck owner for the incident, as public and cargo vehicles were not allowed to transport firecrackers.
“Iimbestigahan natin kung may pananagutan ang ating truck owner nito or kung sinong naka-register sa cargo business na ito,” he said.
(We will investigate whether the truck owner or whoever is registered with the cargo business has any liability for this.)
There were two fatalities from the fire — the truck’s driver and his assistant.
The driver of a bus parked nearby saw the assistant pleading for help.
“Sabi ko ‘Upo muna ako dun tol, sabi niya ‘Mag-ano muna ako, magliwaliw muna ako, kasi nakakapagod nga. Pag-upo ko sa puwetan ng truck nila, biglang sumabog ng napakalakas, parang binuhat ako na tumagos ako sa bintana ng salamin,” Romel Piad said.
(I said ‘I’ll just sit here, brother. He said ‘I’ll just walk around because I’m tired.’ When I sat down on the back of their truck, there was a strong explosion. It was like I was carried and I went through the window.)
GMA Integrated News is still in the process of obtaining the side of the terminal and the truck owner for comment on the matter. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News
