Saturday, December 30, 2006 23 of 27 victims’ clans settle with Unitop for P135T; NBI presses on
FAMILIES of victims in the fire that killed 27 in an Ormoc City store on Christmas Day accepted yesterday the management’s settlement offer of P135,000 each.
But Director Antonio Pagatpat of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Eastern Visayas said the settlement only covers civil liabilities, and that criminal prosecution will continue, if warranted.
He admitted, however, that prosecutors will have a hard time pushing the case if victims and witnesses do not cooperate.
Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla, in a radio dyLA interview, confirmed that the families of fire victims and representatives of Unitop General Merchandising met behind closed doors yesterday and “settled everything.”
“Nagpinirmahay na man to sila (They already signed documents),” Codilla said.
But the mayor also pointed out Unitop must still answer for not complying with fire safety standards and for illegally selling firecrackers.
Corazon Laudeza, whose niece died three days after the fire, admitted in an interview admitted that they accepted Unitop’s offer.
She said representatives of at least 23 victims were there and opted to accept the cash settlement.
The families of four other victims have yet to decide on the offer, amid efforts to verify these victims’ identities.
Laudeza’s niece, Maria Teresa Tarayo, was the latest fatality. She died inside the intensive care unit (ICU) of Ormoc Sugar Planters’ Association hospital last Dec. 28.
Tarayo’s son, Anton Curt, is still in critical condition inside the ICU.
Laudeza said they accepted the P135,000 yesterday. Unitop has also promised to pay for Maria Teresa and Anton Curt’s medical bills. They also signed a quitclaim.
“Naglisod man sab kitang tanan (These are trying times for all of us). We need time, money and manpower,” she told Sun.Star.
But Pagatpat, in a separate interview, said the NBI will still investigate the fire and file the appropriate case once all the necessary evidence is in.
“That settlement will not affect the establishment of probable cause,” he told Sun.Star. “A criminal case cannot be subjected to a settlement.”
Aside from the P135,000 from Unitop, Laudeza said, Mayor Codilla also gave the families of those who died P5,000 each. The Social Security System also released P20,000 for the burial of their loved ones.
The other families have yet to claim the cash benefits. Funeral parlor owner Vincent Rama had to keep telling the relatives to comply with requirements, like proof of their relationship with the victim.
In turn, the relatives told him they still need to travel just to secure marriage licenses and birth certificates of some of the victims—while most people travel to spend the holidays with their loved ones. (OCP)
