Sikyu killed, another hurt in Valenzuela fire
A SECURITY guard died while his colleague was seriously injured in a fire that hit a factory and warehouse Tuesday before dawn in Valenzuela City.
The body of Joselito Pelic was retrieved from the gutted factory of Gilvan Packaging Corporation while his colleague, identified as Nestor Purtisano, 47, sustained 2nd degree burns and was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center for medical treatment.
Valenzuela Fire Marshall Supt. Marvin Carbonell said the fire of still undetermined origin started at the warehouse of Stronghand Inc, a company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of ammunition and explosives, located on 559, Paso de Blas West Service Road at around 4:41 a.m..
Carbonell said that fortunately, the company has a very little stock of chemicals and raw materials intended for the manufacture of ammunition and explosives.
However, the fire spread in the adjacent factory of Gilvan Packaging Corporation which stored plastic materials and solvent resulting in the death and injury of its security guards.
The fire reached third alarm before it was finally declared fire out at around 6:32 a.m., destroying an estimated P3,000,000.00 worth of properties.
Supt. Carbonell said that based on their record, Stronghold Inc. owned by certain Kedin Go Cedenio, was also partially burned on April 5, 2008 and during the course of investigation, the company has no permit or license to operate in Valenzuela City but was able to present documents that proved the legitimacy of their operations.
Arson investigators are still conducting an investigation to determine if the company violated rules and regulations in the handling and storage of raw materials intended for the manufacturing of ammunition and explosives.
