FIVE days before the second anniversary of the NCCC Mall fire on December 23, a lawyer assigned in the preliminary investigation said that 27 cases have been filed against the people who were accountable for the fatal incident.
Senior Assistant Regional Prosecutor lawyer Robert Michael Razon told SunStar Davao that criminal cases have been filed in Branch 3 and Branch 14 in March 2019 and the trial for the case is now ongoing.
Pressed further on the details of the trial, he said he could no longer provide further details since he was only appointed for purposes of the preliminary investigation only. He was relieved as the point person after the filing of the cases.
Razon said there were 21 cases filed in Branch 3 and six cases in Branch 14. He added that there are also other cases endorsed at the Office of the Ombudsman.
In September 2018, a subpoena against the 33 individuals who could be held liable for the fatal NCCC Mall fire in December 2017 has been released listed by the Inter-Agency Anti-Arson Task Force (IATF).
It can be recalled that a total of 38 persons, mostly employees of a call center that was leasing space within the mall, perished in the fire just days before Christmas. Damage was worth over a billion.
The responsible personalities are facing administrative charges and criminal charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries.
In a separate interview, Senior Fire Officer 2 Ramil Gillado, Investigation Section chief of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Davao, said in the aftermath of the fire, they have strengthened their enforcement of the existing law.
"Wala namang changes actually. We still follow and implement what is required by the Fire Code of the Philippines, enforce all laws, rules and regulations to ensure adherence to standard fire prevention and safety measures for business establishments," Gillado said.
With the economic developments happening in the city that spurred high-rise buildings mushrooming around the city, Gillado admitted that in terms of equipment, especially the fire trucks, they are still in need of equipment to meet to growing demands of the city.
"In terms of personnel, we are ready to respond anytime but in terms of huge or high rise building ang involved ay medyo kulang pa po tayo ng equipment," Gillado said.
On their end, they are still hoping to be given modern equipment to respond immediately and keep up with the changing landscape of Davao City.
"Yan 'yong magiging priority ng BFP sa additional budget na ibinigay sa atin ang mag purchase ng additional fire trucks and equipment, and we are happy to hear from Senator Bong Go na priority niya ang pag modernized sa gamit ng BFP," Gillado said.