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Saturday, December 18, 2004
House Speaker's daughter trapped dead in fire
MANILA -- Fire hit the home of House Speaker Jose de Venecia in Makati City, killing his 16-year-old daughter and prompting the congressional leader to call for more modern fire departments nationwide.
Kristina Casimira de Venecia suffocated in the fire and was found inside a bathtub on the second floor of the house in posh Dasmarińas Village. She had wrapped herself in a wet blanket.
Initial investigation showed the fire began from Christmas lights that overheated from prolonged use.
An ABS-CBN report said the de Venecia family thought KC had gone out for coffee with her brother Christopher and was unaware she had changed her mind and stayed home. She managed to place a last phone call to her sister Carissa’s mobile, pleading, “Help me! Help me!” before the line went dead.
Speaker de Venecia said he was in Congress, working on tax revenue-raising measures to beat a fiscal deficit, when the fire broke out.
Safety gear
“The lesson is that we should not overload our Christmas trees during the season,” he said in televised interviews.
While he thanked the Makati Fire Department for their bravery and hard work, he also raised the need to modernize fire departments all over the country. “Makati has one of the best, but even their firefighters lacked gas masks and fire-proof asbestos suits.”
Without these equipment, firefighters struggled to reach the second floor, where the de Venecia couple’s youngest child was trapped.
The speaker and one-time presidential candidate said the family is planning to set up a foundation, in honor of their daughter, which will help send the poor to school.
He also urged local governments nationwide to use part of their Internal Revenue Allotment to buy better equipment for firefighters.
The fire broke out at 11 p.m. Thursday, while Gina de Venecia and her staff were on the ground floor, packing relief goods for typhoon victims.
Twin rites
The speaker’s wife said the Christmas lights near her daughter’s room suddenly ignited, and the flames quickly spread, blocking the path to the upper level. Smoke also engulfed the house.
The fire raged until 1:40 a.m. and Metro Manila Fire Office Chief Danilo Cabrera and a fire volunteer were injured while trying to put out the flames.
KC’s body was immediately cremated and her ashes were brought to the Santuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Makati, for the wake. The urn containing KC’s ashes will be interred in the church’s crypt on Dec. 22.
That day is shaping up to be a security nightmare for police forces in the capital. Political leaders are expected to turn up for the de Venecia rites, while entertainment celebrities and legions of fans are scheduled to attend the burial of presidential candidate and movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. that same day.
“My whole family extends its profound condolences to the family of House Speaker de Venecia,” said President Arroyo. “We are shocked and upset by this tragedy that has befallen a staunch ally and friend, and I consider the death of KC a personal loss of one who faced a vibrant life ahead of her. I pray beside Joe and Gina for her eternal peace.” (PNA/Sunnex)
(December 18, 2004 issue)
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