Natalie Czarina Daclan, arsenal chief administrative officer (right) and administrative aide Camille De Leon hold briefing on the arsenal blast. Photo by Ernie Esconde
LIMAY, Bataan — The Department of National Defense arsenal here on Thursday confirmed that the chemicals being handled by two munition operators who died Wednesday were highly-explosive.
“The chemicals are highly-explosive so these are handled with utmost care,” said Natalie Czarina Daclan, government arsenal chief administrative officer.
She, however, said she could not yet disclose the exact name of the chemicals with the investigation of the explosion still going on.
“As to what happened yesterday, on-going pa ang investigation kaya hindi pa kami makapagbigay ng statement na pwedeng mag-lead ng speculation at misunderstanding kaya nagre-rely lang kami sa written report na ibinibigay ng investigating committee na still doing their task,” Daclan said.
She said that fatalities Ricardo Solomon, 40, of Calungusan, Orion and Marvin Tatel, 38, of Alangan, Limay were personnel of the arsenal explosive division and incharge in the mixing and preparation of priming composition for caliber .45 primers.
She said that the victims were regular arsenal employees, Solomon for eight years and Tatel for four years.
At the time of the explosion, the two were on the first shift and in the process of mixing the component of the priming composition. As munition operators, the two were tasked to operate the machine to be used in the mixing of the chemicals, the administrative officer said.
“Ang composition na iyon ay ginagamit as part ng primer, isang maliit ng component ng isang cartridge na bala na specific sa caliber .45 ang ginagawa kahapon. Ang primer ay ang portion na tinatamaan ng firing pin kapag ipinutok ang baril at ito ang mag-iinitiate ng action para masunog naman ang powder sa loob ng casing ng bala.” Daclan explained.
She said that with the explosion and damage in the facility, there was stoppage of production in the explosive division but she could not say the storage status of priming composition for caliber .45.
As to the two other workers, Macreldo Rodriguez, 57 and Allan Wisco, 36, both of Lamao,Limay, who were reported hurt, Daclan said they were in the arsenal infirmary with no physical injury but monitored for being hypertensive. The victims were part of the more than 900 civilian employees of the government arsenal.
She assured that the fatalities were entitled to death benefits from the GSIS, Employees Compensation Commission and financial assistance from the Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Pamahalaang Arsenal.
“Once we have the investigation result, that will be the basis to address what happened, what causes the explosion and of course, we are hoping that this will not happen again,” Daclan said.
Jonna Tatel said her husband Marvin prior to the incident played with their three children aged four months, three years, and six years. She expressed hope that with his passing, the government or the arsenal would shoulder the needs and schooling of her children until college.
Jonna said death cut off the desire of Marvin to have their own house, they were residing only with her in-laws: “Pangarap ni Marvin na magkaroon kami ng sariling bahay at mabigyan niya ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak niya.”
Marvin’s body was still in the funeral parlor.
The wife of Solomon begged off to be interviewed.
Senior Master Sgt. Jaime Austria, Limay police investigator, said the explosive ordnance disposal unit and the municipal police were still conducting investigation.
