One killed, 2 hurt in QC junk shop blast

By Ronron
October 31, 2007

A boy died while two other persons were hurt in a blast early Wednesday afternoon at a junk shop in Quezon City, police said.

The incident happened past 1pm at the junk shop located at the corner of Batangas and San Antonio Streets in Barangay San Antonio in Muñoz District.

A police officer of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 2 said the two injured victims, identified as Moises Marzan and Anthony Ahento, were brought to the Quezon City General Hospital for treatment. Both worked at the junk shop identified as REM Enterprises.

The dead victim, on the other hand, was identified as Wendell Camacho, 12. He died on the spot as he was badly hit by the explosion.

Police said Camacho is allegedly a vendor of junk materials who just delivered some items to the junk shop owned by Rey Obias.

Investigation is still ongoing as of press time if what exploded was a vintage bomb, or a rifle grenade.

QCPD chief investigator Supt. Franklin Mabanag said initial reports indicate that the explosive material was among the items brought in by Camacho, but the circumstances surrounding the blast is still under investigation.

QCPD Information Officer Supt. Asprinio Cabula said “this incident has a frequency of almost one every three months” in the city.

On June 12, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) also blew off at a junk shop in Barangay Tandang Sora that killed a 17-year-old male helper, and injured five others, including the shop owner.

The incident prompted the QCPD to educate all junk shop owners and managers in the city about dangerous scraps through a meeting in July.

“We got good attendance… Unfortunately, (Obias) did not attend,” Cabula said.

Mabanag said Obias could be held criminally liable, particularly of homicide. But if it is proven that indeed he was not around during the incident and that it was the fault of Camacho, then he might go scot-free.

As of yesterday afternoon, Mabanag said they have no reason to hold Obias in their custody.

Cabula, meanwhile, said that the QCPD will to continue educate “the owners and conduct visitation inspection on junk shops around Quezon City.”/DMS