Owners of Cavite fireworks factory promises aid to victims

MANILA, Philippines – Owners of the fireworks factory in Trece Martires City in Cavite where at least five people were killed and scores others were wounded following an explosion on Thursday promised aid for victims of the blast. In an interview on dzBB radio, Richard Rivera - spokesman of Starmakers Fireworks - said the firm is cooperating with local authorities in extending aid to the victims of the explosion that left at least 5 people killed and 43 wounded. Rivera said the company even deployed some of its employees to coordinate with police authorities to assure that those injured in the blast are provided medical aid. "Pinakalat namin ang mga empleyado para…masilbihan ang mga biktima at patuloy kaming nakikipagcooperate sa local na pulisya ng Trece Martires para mabigyan ng karampatang medical help itong ating mga biktima (We sent out our employees to render assistance to the victims and we will continuously cooperate with the local police to provide aid to these victims)," Rivera said. Earlier reports identified three of the five fatalities in the blast as Christian Panganiban, Rodelio Iso, and Marlon Rodrin, and said others who were injured in the incident were rushed to various hospitals in the province. In the interview, Rivera said the Starmakers management is "surprised" over the explosion because the firm has gone on "shut-down" mode after the New Year’s revelry. "Nagtataka kami [kung bakit nangyari ito]. Nakapagtataka kaya gusto namin malaman kung ano ang real cause ng aksidente na ito (We are wondering why this happened that's why we want to know the real cause of the accident)," Rivera said. Rivera added that according to one of the factory’s managers, the personnel were only conducting inventories inside the establishment even as the police earlier said that the explosion may have been caused by some workers testing the products. The official also extended the firm’s deepest sympathies to the victims and to their families. "The company is saddened over what happened," he said in Filipino. Rivera likewise said that the firm will cooperate with officials who will conduct an investigation on the incident even as he said that the factory meets "global security standards." - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV