THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Davao warned the public to let the firemen do their work while conducting fire suppression activity, otherwise, they will be sued for interfering in their operation.
This came after a resident harassed a fireman from Lanang Fire Station, while they were conducting suppression in a fire incident that took place at Purok 3-A, New Society Village, Barangay Ilang, Davao City on Sunday, June 2.
Senior Fire Officer (SFO) 2 Ramil Gillado, BFP-Davao chief of the intelligence and investigation section, said that their office is determined to sue the resident, identified as Dennis Ombus, who hit a fireman on the chest after the latter did not heed his command to release pressure.
BFP will file charges for violating the fire code by interfering in a firefighting operation, physical injury and usurpation of authority. Ombus was positively identified by the fireman after pictures were shown to him.
“Sabi ng driver natin which is siya yong in-charge sa operation ng fire truck natin sabi niya: Hindi pa pwedeng bigyan ng pressure kasi nag le-layout pa yong tao natin, pumapasok pa hindi pa naka position. Nag-insist ‘yong tao na bigyan na ng pressure,” Gillado said.
He said that it was not the first time that their personnel was assaulted by a resident, during the term of then mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a fireman was punched by a resident. After the incident, they searched the attacker.
“Yan yong gustong mangyari ng regional director natin na bigyan ng lessons kasi may mga previous incidents na ganito na parang ginaganyan lang yong firefighters natin pati na mga volunteers natin, may mga experience na ganon. Bibigyan natin ng lesson para at least maging reminder sa public,” Gillado said.
Later on, they learned that Ombus’ house was not razed and he was not a government employee contrary to what he claimed during the incident.