Faulty wiring caused smoke that set off fire alarm in Batasan lobby, official says

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

MANILA -- Faulty wiring in the electrical box located near an elevator in the South Wing ground floor of the Batasan Pambansa complex emitted smoke Wednesday afternoon, alarming employees of the House of Representatives but the Secretary General quickly clarified that there was no fire in the area.

"Nag-quit lang yung electrical wiring, umusok pero walang flame," Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap said in a phone interview.

Employees were quickly evacuated and electricity was cut, which are part of their standard safety precautions when a fire alarm is sounded, Yap added.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., however, was dismayed after fire trucks inside the Batasan Pambansa complex which responded to the incident were not functioning.

"I just want to find out why nobody is saying or even informed us that the fire truck is not functioning but I am unhappy," Belmonte said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)