DAVAO -- Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said Friday that he is determined to press criminal and administrative charges against anyone found liable for Valenzuela factory fire that killed 72 people.
"Seventy-two ka tao ang nawala. Seventy-two ka nana yang nawalan ng anak, 72 ang na byuda, 72 ang nawalan ng kapatid, ng ama. Dapat may managot talaga sa nangyari," Roxas told Davao media in an interview at Alejandra Navarra National High School in Barangay Lasang, Davao City.
Last week, a fire erupted at the Kentex Manufacturing factory in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City. The fire is believed to have been caused by explosions from chemicals that were ignited by welding sparks.
More than 70 people were killed in the fire, the charred bodies of 69 of them were found clustered in the factory's second floor.
Roxas earlier said that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be held accountable for any lapse found during the investigation.
He also said the probe will clarify why the factory workers were unable to leave the building during the fire and if there were adequate fire exits.
The Kentex Manufacturing factory failed an inspection on compliance to the Fire Code of the Philippines that the BFP conducted after the fire.
The BFP said the factory's two fire exits could not be considered as such since they also led inside the building premises and not outside. (Sun.Star Davao)