Sunday fire that killed? NBI questions employees of Eastern Enterprises

Five employees from Eastern Enterprises, the noodle factory in Cogon, Pardo destroyed by fire last Sunday where seven people died, were subjected to a polygraph examination in connection with the investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.

NBI regional director Medardo De Lemos said that the five stay-in employees were taken in for questioning and underwent a lie detector test. He said there are eight other employees who will be subjected to the same test in the course of the investigation. The employees were invited for questioning after reports that there is a possibility of arson.

Investigators are initially looking into the possibility that the incident may have something to do with the relationship of the victims with the workers of the factory. They, however, clarified that this does not mean that the incident was really arson. They said what they are doing is just a standard procedure in crime investigation.

The NBI was requested by consul general Cui Lousheng of the People's Republic of China to look into the cause of the fire that claimed the lives of seven people. The family of the victims also filed a formal complaint with the NBI asking to conduct an investigation because of the possibility that there was arson involved.

De Lemos said he has created a team of investigators led by supervising agent Jose Ermie Monsanto to look into it. The team immediately conducted an ocular inspection Monday and took a sketch of the fire scene. The investigators also took samples from the fire scene for laboratory examination.

The NBI investigation, De Lemos said, is being done in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection. The fire department earlier said that initial investigations reveal that the possible cause of the fire was electricity misuse.

De Lemos, however, said the NBI could not comment on the initial findings of the fire department until they have completed their investigation.

Seven members of the Chua family died during the fire that broke out inside the Eastern Enterprises compound about 1:00 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 Kenneth Que Chua, 10, were charred to death after they were trapped at the second floor of their house because of the iron grills that covered their windows. - Fred P. Languido/QSB