POLICE CHIEF, 6 OTHERS HURT IN PAMPANGA PORTABLE STOVE BLAST

BY KEVIN GALANG

A POLICE chief and six others were injured when a portable stove they were using to cook food on Tuesday exploded inside a police station in Bgy.  Santo Niño, San Simon, Pampanga.

In a report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr., Pampanga police commander Col. Jay Dimaandal identified the victims as San Simon police chief Maj. Leonardo Lacambra, 45; PSSg Mary Jane Genobili,  41; PSSg Jay-R  Mabborang, 33; non-uniformed personnel Rolalyn Pascua, 35; non-uniformed personnel  Marvin Novesteras, 44; Rowena Ignacio Celestial, 43; and Euis Pauig, 33.

Lacambra and the other victims sustained first degree burns and were rushed by responding personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection San Simon to the ASCOM Hospital in Apalit, Pampanga for treatment,

According to Dimaandal, the explosion occurred around  5:30 p.m. on Tuesday inside the San Simon Municipal Police Station in Bgy. Santo Niño.

The victims were preparing for a dinner party when the portable stove suddenly exploded.

Initial investigation showed that the explosion was caused by the leaking butane cylinder attached to the portable stove used by the victims.

Dimaandal said the chief of police, one police officer and one NUP suffered burns on their faces and are under observation at the hospital,

The other victims have been discharged after receiving first aid treatment.