Ayala presents experts’ findings contradicting PNP’s gas explosion theory at Glorietta 2

By Ronron
November 4, 2007

The Ayala Land, Incorporated (ALI) presented on Sunday several findings of their experts’ analysis that disputed the gas explosion theory being floated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a possible cause of the deadly blast at Glorietta 2 last October 19.

ALI President and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Ayala told reporters in a press briefing at a Makati City Hotel that the analysis was done by several local and foreign experts they consulted, including Dr. Stephen Etheridge, a specialist on waste water and effluent treatment with special expertise on biogas production, and Burgoynes, an international consulting firm specializing in the forensic investigation of fires, explosions, and engineering failures.

“Our analysis at this point in time, together with what our foreign experts have told us, makes it seem that it’s highly unlikely that there would have been sufficient methane in order to cause this kind of blast, and at the same time, that the diesel tank itself was not the primary source of this kind of damage,” Ayala said.

“So we urge them (government investigators) to really look into every angle here because it’s very important that we also have to find out exactly what happened on October 19,” he added.

Ayala said they sought the expertise of Etheridge and Burgoynes, among others, because the PNP has been highlighting before the media that what happened most likely was gas explosion resulting from the combustion of either methane or diesel vapor formed at the basement of Glorietta 2.

In their press conferences, the PNP repeatedly cited the presence of the septic tank and diesel tank at the basement, which, according to them, supports their theory that methane gas and diesel fumes have been generated, mixed up, and then ignited by either of the following – the portable submersible pump, circuit breaker, light switch, and light bulb.

Together with other government investigators, the PNP pointed out that there was insufficient ventilation at the basement, allowing therefore the methane gas and diesel fumes to build up together.

But all these were disputed by the experts hired by ALI, Ayala said.

“It is highly unlikely that methane would be produced in the Glorietta 2 basement sump pits because the conditions for the production of methane in substantial quantities were not present,” Ayala said, quoting their experts’ findings.

Ayala insisted that there is no septic tank at the basement, and that the sump pits are emptied several times per day.

Should there be methane production, Ayala said “accumulation of biogas in the basement is unlikely because it would have vented via the large open stairwell leading to the delivery bay,” which is an open area at the ground floor or street level.

The basement was under the delivery bay located at the ground floor that caters to a few restaurants in Glorietta 2.

Ayala’s statement contradicts the PNP’s claim that the basement was poorly ventilated.

Ayala said further that had there been biogas formation at the basement, then the personnel assigned to check the equipment there on a daily basis would have smelled “hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs and causes nausea and eye and skin irritation.”

“No such smells or symptoms were observed by the various personnel working in and out of the basement on the days preceding the explosion as well as on the actual day of the explosion,” Ayala said.

As to the diesel component, Ayala reiterated that the flash point of the tank’s content during the day of the incident was within the normal range, at 76 degrees Celsius, as tested by a major oil company in its laboratory. Ayala explained that the flash point is the temperature at which sufficient vapor from a liquid is formed for combustion to occur.

“Furthermore, no evidence was found to indicate any contamination with a volatile liquid,” Ayala said.

Ayala said the deforming of the diesel tank’s roof and tearing along a weld “is relatively minor secondary damage” as a result of “an internal overpressure” during the incident.

“The overpressure in the diesel tank could not have caused the damage observed in Glorietta… And it is unlikely that a gas explosion in the basement would have caused the severe damage observed in the loading bay area because at the time of the incident, the loading bay was open to the street,” Ayala said.

When asked, however, as to any suggestion made by their experts as to the possible cause of the blast if they are discounting the gas theory, Ayala opted not to answer directly.

“At this point in time, we don’t want to add additional hypothesis and speculation to the investigation… being performed by the authorities… At this point in time, I think it’s really important that the authorities continue to look into all possibilities,” he said.

Pressed if their experts have found pieces of evidence to support a bombing theory, Ayala only said: “We’ve been focusing on methane and diesel because that is the primary hypothesis being put forward… And we continue to have no access to the site so our analysis in that area is not complete.”

“We cannot say conclusively say whether or not there is a bomb crater,” he added.

Ayala said they have already shared their experts’ findings to the PNP for the latter’s appreciation.

“Everything that we make available to the press is first made available to the PNP. We’re here as they are to seek, to find out what really happened there. So, any information that they feel is useful, we are happy to provide to them,” he said.

Thus, Ayala suggested that it is premature for the PNP to be talking at this time about negligence of some parties because there are no conclusive findings yet as to the cause of the blast that killed 11 people and wounded over a hundred others.

“I guess, for negligence to occur, it has to be connected to an incident. And so far, the incidents that have been theorized have been with respect to methane production or with respect to diesel. Because we are ruling out methane as the source of the explosion, and diesel as the cause of the explosion, we don’t think that negligence is relevant with respect to those particular possibilities,” Ayala said.

Ayala disclosed that the basement and the equipment there are really owned by Makati Supermarket. Therefore, the maintenance people who work at the basement are contracted by Makati Supermarket.

Although, ALI provides supervision as to the maintenance of the facility, he said./DMS