Tuesday, October 03, 2006 University execs sued for student's death By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal charges against several University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) officials and student-organizers of the beauty pageant that killed college freshman Cheryl Sarate.
Charges were filed before the City Prosecutor's Office by the NBI, three months after the incident occurred.
The organizers, all Usep students, accused of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide are: Iive Marie Dacay, Irish Mae Bernaldez, Arjay Arcena, Alvin Sequia, Ma. Juliet Vasay, Jared Rick Tagra, Esther Ledesma, Janice Love de Guzman, and Rod Stephen Mariano.
Also named respondent in the lawsuit are Usep president Dr. Julieta Ortiz; Usep vice president Rodolfo Sumugnot; director of Office of Student Services Dr. Romulo Dequito; Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Marie Rose Escalada; Professor Catherine Roble, adviser of the Guild of English Students -- the organization behind the pageant; Emma Gobates, the person who signed the contract to use the social hall; and Gilbert Gordo, the social hall in charge.
The Usep officials will also be facing administrative charges aside from the criminal case.
All are accused of being responsible for the death of Sarate, who died after the gown she was wearing caught fire while doing her catwalk for the show last July 20.
Sarate was rushed to the Davao Medical Center where she was treated for third degree burns, but died two days later.
In the affidavit submitted, it noted that pageant organizers and school officials have not complied with precautionary and safety measures required by the Bureau of Fire Protection, which is tantamount to negligence or imprudence.
Thirty students who were among those who watched the gruesome incident said there was no fire extinguisher in the hall where the pageant was held.
A video obtained by the ABS-CBN Davao showed Sarate in her costume made up of cotton and plastic while parading on the stage along with other contestants of the pageant.
The video showed Sarate's gown catching fire as she passed by a candle placed at the side of the elevated stage. Within a fraction of a second, Sarate fall off the stage already engulfed by fire while spectators scampered.
The same video showed no one getting a fire extinguisher, which is a must in every edifice especially in learning institutions like Usep. It was later found out in the investigation that there was indeed no fire extinguisher in the area.
At the height of the controversy over Sarate's death, the city's Bureau of Fire and Protection earlier said the organizers violated a fire code, which requires organizers to get a permit for the use of any open flame like a candle in any public occasion.
