‘We want to know what caused the blast’

MANILA, Philippines – The only thing they want now is the truth. What caused the explosion that killed his brother?

Jeffrey Umali, 29, was one of the 3 Abenson employees who died Friday night, May 31, due to the powerful explosion that hit a unit at the posh Two Serendra in Taguig.

His brother Jeremy accompanied the victim’s wife and children to the morgue at the Rizal Funeral Homes in Pasay City Saturday, June 1. The body was transferred to Talavera, Nueve Ecija late afternoon. 

“Malaman lang namin sana kung ano ang dahilan ng pagsabog,” Jeremy Umali told Rappler. (We just need to know what caused the explosion.)

Four staffers and managers of Abenson, the appliance store chain that employed Umali, visited the funeral homes Saturday afternoon and assured the family that the company will take care of expenses for the wake and burial. Umali was a company driver. He and his two colleagues died after the Abenson delivery truck they were in was pinned down by a wall that fell from the blast.

READ: Shattered dreams for Serendra victim

Umali’s wife Myla said she was still confused. She grieves for her fatherless kids—4-year-old JM and Ella, who’s only 9 months old. She said her husband worked with Abenson for nearly 3 years and was saving up for the children’s education.

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano also visited the funeral home Saturday to condole with the family and assure them of the city’s “moral and emotional support, including financial assistance.”

She refused to dwell on the details of the investigation, however, to avoid “misinformation.” – with reports from Gio Romano/Rappler.com