Metro Briefs

Man killed in QC factory fire

A man was killed on Thursday after a fire gutted an ammunitions factory in Cubao, Quezon City, that reportedly shut down in 2014.  The victim was identified as 55-year-old Ruben Villaflor, an employee of Creser Precision System  Inc., which was housed in a one-story industrial building on Don Jose Street in Barangay San Roque.  Senior Supt. Manuel Manuel, Quezon City fire marshal, said the fire started at 11:30 a.m. and was declared under control past noon. The blaze was finally put out at 2 p.m. and Villaflor’s remains were found inside the building.  Case investigator SFO3 Rosendo Cabillan Jr. said that 21 fire trucks from the fire bureau and volunteers rushed to the scene.   While the cause of fire was still under investigation, he reported that it began in the machine room. Damage to property was placed at around P300,000.  Cabillan said the owner, who was identified as Francis Romualdes, said the factory had been shut since 2014.  “But the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Quezon City police said they might still be operating, as evidenced by the positioning of the machines,” he said. SPO4 David Gundayao of the EOD said the firm supplied weapons such as blasting caps and detonators, mostly to the military. —Jhesset O. Enano

Christmas concert set today

There will be a Christmas concert by the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir at the Divine Mercy Multipurpose Center in Maysilo today (Dec. 30). “Pasko sa Langit” will be presented at 4 p.m. by Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos in cooperation with the Mandaluyong Federation for Choral Music and the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Admission is free.