PNP orders regular inspection of ammo storage hubs

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13, 2022): PNP orders regular inspection of ammo storage hubs (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday ordered all police commanders to regularly inspect their ammunition storage facilities.

This comes following the fire and blasts that razed the ammunition complex of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City past midnight on Tuesday.

PNP director for operations, Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, has directed all regional directors to exercise due diligence in storing firearms ammunition that can cause serious accidents when mishandled.

“Our commanders should always make sure to check the weather condition and the temperature inside the storage areas. Moisture may develop inside and this can ignite the ammunition inside. We have to be careful and responsible in handling this because we don’t want any similar incident that happened in Cagayan de Oro City to happen in the police camps or any police offices. So the best way to ensure that this would not happen is to take regular preventive measures,” de Leon said in a statement.

He said the same due diligence must also be observed in evidence storage areas where confiscated firearms and ammunition from criminal elements are stored.

“The PNP, headed by our OIC (officer-in-charge) Lt. Gen. (Vicente) Danao is waiting for the result of the investigation on the incident in Cagayan de Oro City in order to know the lessons that we could learn to prevent any similar incident to happen,” said de Leon.

He warned that those who would be found remiss in their responsibility of properly taking care of ammunition storage areas would be facing administrative cases.

“They would surely be facing administrative liability if they would not exercise due diligence because we have already reminded them through a memorandum issued from the National Headquarters,” said de Leon.

No troops were injured in the fire that was declared out at 3:10 a.m. on Tuesday but three civilians were taken to the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Around 245 residents living near the ammunition complex have also been evacuated and are now temporarily sheltered at the 4th Infantry Division gymnasium and the Barangay Patag covered court.

The facility houses 155mm howitzer rounds and various small arms ammunition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178844