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Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Chinese consul, biz: Probe killer fire
CEBU CITY -- The Chinese government and a business leader are asking for a deeper probe into the fire last Sunday in Barangay Cogon-Pardo in Cebu City that killed seven members of a Filipino-Chinese family.
Lawyer Medardo de Lemos, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional chief, said Chinese Consul Cui Lousheng asked for the inquiry as those who perished had Chinese citizenship.
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An NBI team, headed by Supervising Agent Ermie Monsanto, went to the fire scene Monday to gather information on the cause of the blaze.
Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCCI) president Filomeno Lim also wrote to Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla urging him to determine if the fire was an accident or an arson case.
“I am requesting you to conduct a thorough investigation as to the possible cause of the fire, whether it was due to faulty electrical wiring or intentionally done,” Lim’s letter said, which he had read out in an interview over radio dyLA Monday.
Lim said the Filipino-Chinese community in Cebu is in deep mourning for the Chua family whose seven members died when fire broke out inside the Eastern Enterprises compound about 1 a.m. Sunday.
Eng Eng Chung Chua, 70, Karen Chua Que, 15, Ada Marie Magallanes Chua, 16, Arvin Magallanes Chua, 13, Helen Chua Que, 42, Arjohn Magallanes Chua, 12, and Kennette Que Chua, 10, failed to go out from the upper floor of the house because of the iron window grills.
Flames engulfed the door, trapping them inside the house.
Lim said the Chua family was very close to him. He described the family to be good people.
Lim said the FCCCI is willing to help in the legal action that the fire department may take against the possible perpetrators.
The chamber may also extend assistance to the Chua family.
Fire investigators considered the blaze as the worst so far this month because of the number of casualties.
Some workers who were sleeping in a building next to the house reportedly suffered minor injuries during the fire.
Codilla said they are still looking into all possible angles as to the cause of the fire.
One family member, however, told investigators that they heard an explosion from the first floor, which was the Eastern Enterprises office.
“We will try to verify if the statement was true. We also want to find out the background of the victims and the business,” Monsanto, a lawyer, said.
Codilla, who went back to the fire scene Monday, said his office is in the process of interviewing witnesses to help them determine the cause of the fire.
He said initial investigation they have gathered so far indicated that the fire could be trace to an electrical usage. He received information that the electrical system was installed some 16 years ago yet.
Codilla reiterated his appeal to the house owners to refrain from using iron grills in the windows. (JST & KNR of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (March 27, 2007 issue)
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