Head finally rolls as Ft. Boni fire-blast claims 3rd fatality

MANILA, Philippines—The commander of the Philippine Army’s Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) was sacked in connection with the May 7 fire-triggered blasts inside its main camp in Fort Bonifacio, which on Wednesday claimed the life of a third victim—a female lieutenant and mother of two.

An investigation also revealed that the three fatalities were part of an inspection team that was present when a “spark” ignited a stockpile of gunpowder inside the EOD headquarters, setting off the fire and the subsequent explosions, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato.

Relieved of his post by virtue of command responsibility was EOD chief Lt. Col. Florante Sison, Detoyato said. Sison, who remains under an investigation that would establish the extent of his accountability, was in Zamboanga City at the time of the incident.

The relief order issued by a board of inquiry would prevent him from handling any command position in the next two years, Detoyato explained in an Inquirer interview Thursday.

The board, he said, found “lapses in the handling of explosives and ordnance materials” at the EOD headquarters inside the Army Support Command compound.

A head finally rolled in connection with the deadly fire as another burn victim, 1Lt. Dinar Alosada, succumbed to her injuries at East Avenue Medical Center at 3:39 p.m. Wednesday, Detoyato said.

Alosada was married to a fellow Army lieutenant. She left behind two children, aged 5 and 2.

Earlier, Cpl. Bernabe Mota and Master Sgt. Ferdinand Rafal also died from severe burns.

Alosada headed the Army Chief Ordnance and Chemical Service unit, with Rafal as one of her team members. Mota was assigned to the EOD battalion.

At the time of the incident, Alosada’s team, along with Mota, was conducting a periodic inspection of dud ammunition rounds set for dismantling at the EOD building. “They had an order to conduct the inspection that day,” Detoyato said.

Quoting the Army investigation report, Detoyato said the team was about to finish the inspection when a spark ignited a stockpile of gunpowder, setting the whole building ablaze.

“There appeared to be a metal-to-metal friction that caused the spark. Gunpowder is sensitive to friction,” Detoyato said.

According to witnesses, he said, Alosada, Mota and Rafal were the ones nearest the stockpile. The three soldiers were already brought out of the burning building when the fire further triggered a series of explosions that injured more than 20 responders.