Cops probe Las Piñas fire deaths

The police are investigating a recent fire that killed five people who were reportedly trapped in an apartment in Las Piñas City past midnight Friday.

Senior Inspector Renato Salvador of the Las Piñas Fire Department said there were 11 families renting rooms in the two-story apartment.

He said apartment owner Alexander Mortera showed up at the police station after the fire to show that he has not gone into hiding, contrary to earlier reports, and promised to cooperate in the investigation.

Salvador said he cannot describe the apartment’s layout or floor area since they have no documents that would provide these pieces of information. Mortera promised to show the authorities next week his copy of a permit allowing him to rent out his apartment, according to Salvador.

“He (Mortera) came to give a statement. However, we are still gathering strong evidence that will prove he is liable for what had happened; that is why a formal case has not yet been filed against him,” Salvador said.

Salvador earlier said “the owner of the house was not issued a permit to operate that type of business in the area.”

He noted with so many people crammed into the two-story apartment, “it is possible that faulty electrical wiring could have caused the fire.”

The charred bodies of Rommel Barro, 35; his wife Pia, 40; and their one-year-old daughter Leonila were found in a room at the second floor of the apartment. Firefighters reportedly found them huddled together.

Rowena Rebadulla, 40, and her companion, Meriam, 36, were found in another room on the same floor of the apartment, located along Balikatan Street in Barangay CAA.