Punishment in Ozone tragedy ‘too soft’

Senatorial candidate Wigberto "Bobby" Tañada of the People Power Coalition has expressed dismay over the "soft punishment" meted out for the owners of Ozone disco for reckless imprudence in connection with a fire that killed 162 people five years ago.

Tañada was reacting to the recent decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court sentencing the operator and the company treasurer of Ozone disco to four years in prison and ordering each of them to pay the victims more than P25 million.

The representative from the fourth district of Quezon province also decried the fact that no one from Quezon City Hall, which supervises and checks on building facilities, was charged or held liable for the Ozone tragedy. "Government authorities whose laxity resulted in the needless death of students celebrating their graduation share a large part of the blame," he said.

In observance of Fire Prevention Month, Tañada reminded owners of discos, music lounges, nightclubs and bars to ensure the safety of their clients by setting up fire exists, installing fire-fighting equipment, and regularly checking electrical installations.

He said the gravity and magnitude of the Ozone tragedy should compel the coming Congress to review and if necessary amend the Revised Penal Code and the Local Government Code in order to institute more stringent sanctions.