Ombudsman suspends 12 QC, BFP execs for Manor fire

Twelve Quezon City officials were suspended yesterday for six months for the Aug. 18 fire that gutted the Manor Hotel, resulting in the death of 74 people.

This developed as prosecutors gave the owners of the budget hotel along Kamias Road 15 days to explain why they should not be held liable for the deadly blaze.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said the suspension of seven officials from the Quezon City engineering office and five from the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was issued after investigators found strong evidence against them for gross neglect of duty.

Desierto noted that the officials deliberately ignored the Manor’s violations of fire regulations. "We need to suspend them to prevent them from tampering with records and harassing witnesses while investigation is ongoing," he said.

The local officials suspended were city chief engineer Alfredo Macapugay, building inspectors Donato Rivera, Romualdo Santos, Severino Mariano; business permit office chief Rafael Galvez, and electrical inspectors Romeo Montallana and Gerardo Villaseñor.

On the other hand, those suspended from the BFP were Reynaldo Simpao, the chief of the inspectorate division; Manuel Baduria Jr., Carlito Romero and Teodorico Gaela.

City fire marshall Ricardo Lemence was also included in the list but he had been summarily sacked the day after the Manor fire.

Desierto said members of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding and investigation bureau has concluded that there was sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the 12 officials. It recommended suspension with no pay.

The Manor Hotel had an expired business permit after it was not renewed when it was found to be stealing electricity through illegal "jumpers." It was also found to be violating fire regulations as early as August last year but continued to operate until the day of the tragedy.

The blaze was believed to have been caused by a short-circuit in the ceiling of the hotel’s third floor where a karaoke bar was located. Thick smoke which spread quickly through the hotel’s stairways and ventilation shaft suffocated most of the victims who were fast asleep when the fire broke out.

The victims were trapped between the hotel’s searing, smoky corridor and the ornate, white iron grills on their room windows. Aside from the 74 killed in the blaze, 51 were also listed as injured.

Manor owner William Genato, his wife Rebecca and eight incorporators of the hotel were given until Sept. 12 to file their counter-affidavit to the charges filed against them.

Quezon City Prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili said the hotel’s owners may be arrested if they fail to file their answer on the deadline.

The owners are facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide for failing to equip the building with a sprinkler system, emergency lights, and fire alarm. They are also being held liable for keeping the fire exits locked. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe