Tuguegarao fire marshals relieved

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The regional Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has relieved all city fire inspectors following the tragic Bed and Breakfast Pension House fire that killed 16 people last Sunday.

Their relief came one day after the ouster of city fire marshal Superintendent Neil Caranguian.

Fire Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano Jr., BFP regional director, said the city fire inspectors were assigned to BFP Cagayan under Fire Superintendent Jesus Fernandez, who was also named concurrent officer-in-charge of the Tuguegarao City BFP.

On orders of President Aquino, the Department of Justice (DOJ) formed a fact-finding body to investigate whether there were lapses or negligence on the part of the BFP, city government, hotel owners and other concerned parties, which led to the tragic fire incident.

Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting also asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Cagayan to conduct an impartial investigation into last Sunday’s tragedy.

Tuguegarao City police chief Pedro Martirez said the joint DOJ-PNP panel conducting the investigation was given 15 days to submit its report identifying those to be held liable for the fire.

Martinez also confirmed that the Bed and Breakfast Pension House had no permit to operate as a lodging house and had no fire safety permit from the city’s BFP.

The calls for investigation came amid allegations that the city’s BFP personnel had failed to respond on time, as well as their reported lack of basic firefighting equipment such as extended ladder, protective glass, helmets, and fire-proof uniforms, which prevented them from penetrating the blaze, which could have possibly avoided or minimized the loss of lives.

Robredo wants more firefighting equipment

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the BFP will procure at least 200 more fire trucks and more equipment next year to improve firefighting capability.

“By next year we will buy 15 to 25 percent more fire trucks than last year with the same amount of money,” said Robredo, who noted that there are still 600 localities without fire trucks. There are 1,705 cities and municipalities in the country.

He said he has asked President Aquino to allow the BFP to get an Australian loan that would help the bureau procure additional equipment.

In the past, he said the BFP procured a fire truck for P8.9 million, although it could cost only P7 million.

“Effectively P7 million per fire truck, which is cheaper by P1.9 million compared to purchases of the previous administration at P8.9 million each,” said Robredo. “It’s less expensive, and we can purchase at least 200 more units.”

He noted that the savings will also help the BFP to acquire more vests, and gas masks.

The DILG secretary admitted that the 69 firemen in Tuguegarao have only five sets of uniforms, which were obviously not enough to ensure the protection of firemen.

Robredo also ordered all mayors nationwide to sustain the implementation of the fire and building safety code to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

He said he would issue a “ningas kugon” circular for all the local chief executives to make sure they will continue to conduct regular inspections on business establishments in their respective localities.

Ningas kugon refers to the Filipino habit of starting jobs enthusiastically, only to lose steam later on.

“Let us give premium to accountability. In case of lapses, we will relieve not only the fire marshal but also the provincial fire director,” said Robredo during a press conference at the DILG office.

Tales of agony

Meanwhile, cries of agony linger in the mind of Araceli Fondevilla and other people who were in the middle of the tragic blaze in this city last Sunday.

Fondevilla said she was traumatized by the fire that claimed her two children, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren ages 5 and 12.

In a radio interview, the 50-year-old grandmother said a man pushed her during the commotion until they were able to get out of the building.

Fondevilla recounts how she heard her grandchildren crying and screaming as she thought that her family members were trailing behind her.

Araceli and her husband Pete are owners of the ill-fated Bed and Breakfast Pension House that was razed last Sunday, killing 16 people, mostly nursing graduates who were supposed to take the board exams last Dec. 19 and 20.

Dondi Viernes was in the hallway when he heard the commotion. He rushed upstairs and braved the blaze to reach his room at the fifth floor.

Viernes heard his roommate Ronwaldo Respicio crying as he desperately tried to pull him to safety. But he lost his grip and just rolled down the stairs to escape from the burning room.

Superintendent Pedro Martirez, Tuguegarao police chief, said he watched helplessly as a person trapped inside the burning building was crying “ayoko ko pang mamatay (I don’t want to die yet).”

Fire Officer 3 Bonifacio Perez admitted that there was no rescue situation more dramatic and daring than the Bed and Breakfast fire incident in his 17 years as a fireman.

Perez was able rescue nine hotel guests at the height of the blaze. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Charlie Lagasca