Check electrical wiring, QC execs told

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) asked authorities of the Quezon City courts to check all electrical wiring at the Hall of Justice before switching them on to prevent fire in the building which was hit by an hour-long blaze last Saturday.

This developed as a number of people, including lawyers, policemen and civilians, who were about to attend hearings or follow up their cases in regional and metropolitan trial courts, expressed disappointment over the suspension of court proceedings without any formal announcement.

Quezon City Executive Judge Monina Zenarosa ordered the suspension of proceedings in all regional trial courts yesterday as maintenance personnel started clearing fire debris in the four-story justice building. The fire last Saturday morning originated at the lounge where renovation was being done.

Chief Inspector Ricardo Lemense, Quezon City Fire Marshal, said all electrical switches must not be turned on unless checked properly by engineering personnel because it might cause another fire.

Lemense noted that electrical wire in the other rooms of the justice building were affected by the fire that gutted the offices of Regional Trial Court Judges Diosdado Peralta of Branch 95 and Lucas Bersamin of Branch 96 last Saturday.

Initial investigation showed that sparks from a welding machine fell on flammable materials causing the fire. Workers were working overtime in the justice lounge at the second floor of the building.

A hundred people were barred by security guards from entering the building yesterday as all the judges met and decided to suspend court proceedings so as not to risk the safety of individuals pursuing their cases.

However, the judges failed to post an announcement at the front door of the justice building causing confusion among lawyers, policemen and civilians.

"They (judges) should have at least put formal announcement of the suspension of court proceedings on the front door of the building. We are at a loss (as to when we have to be here again)," Tina Asame told The STAR. Asame was about to attend a hearing of a civil case in one of the courts when she saw the building closed.

Lawyer Ernestina Salire, whose client has a pending case in the sala of Metropolitan Regional Trial Judge Ralph Lee, shared Asame’s views.

Security guard Jean Alejano could not say anything about the resumption of court proceedings when interviewed by The STAR. He advised people to come back today.

However, Nelson Peralta, a staffer of Judge Peralta, said court proceedings in their sala will resume next week because they have to dry documents soaked by water when firefighters were containing the fire last Saturday.