Headlines

President promises thorough probe into Davao City mall fire

December 26, 2017 | 4:28am

President promises thorough probe into Davao City mall fire

A firefighter stands in front of the burning NCCC Mall in Davao City on Saturday, December 22. AFP, file

MANILA, Philippines — The truth about the Davao City mall fire will come out, President Rodrigo Duterte said, as he assured victims' families of a thorough investigation.

Duterte, whose daughter is city mayor and whose son announced his resignation as vice mayor on Monday, said an interagency body has been formed to probe the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) fire, which left at least 37 people dead two days before Christmas.

"What I assured them is that the truth will — Let the truth come out…what really happened,” the President told reporters after a private meeting with the kin of the victims at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City on Tuesday.

Duterte said investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police would take charge of the investigation into the fire in the city that the President and his family has led for decades.

The BPO Industry Employees Network lit candles in Makati on Monday to mourn the deaths of their colleagues and to dramatize their demand for a full-blown investigation. Employees from different BPO firms in Metro Manila participated in the candle-lighting activity.

“We demand justice and accountability for the tragic death of 37 people in the Davao mall fire,” the group said, adding that the information it gathered from concerned individuals point to violations on safety standards.

All who died were BPO employees of Research Now and Survey Sampling International (SSI), located on the mall’s 4th floor.

The SSI assured bereaved families of assistance, including funeral arrangements and funds. It also arranged counseling for other employees.

“The terrible tragedy has left us with heavy hearts. We offer our condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims,” SSI chief operating officer Gary Laben said in a statement.

READ: NBI, DOLE to probe Davao city's NCCC Mall fire

Government ready to assist victims' kin

President Duterte on Tuesday reiterated his promise to provide financial help to the bereaved families and to assist them in recovering the bodies of their loved ones.

“Maybe the compensation and the expenses were (shouldered). But I committed that the government is willing to chip in,” the President said.

It was the second time Duterte met with the families of those who died in the fire. He was the one who informed them that those who were trapped in the mall had zero chances of surviving hours after the fire broke out.

“Of course, it was a crisis last night. And I consider it that lucky because I was around to commiserate with the people there,” Duterte said.

The President said his daughter, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, could not relay the bad news herself.

“I was the one who broke the news to them. Because Inday begged off. She said, ‘Hindi ko kaya, (I cannot do it) Pa," he said.

Duterte also offered words of consolation to the kin of the victims and advised them to pray “because there’s really no sense in overdoing things.”

“I stressed to them that at this time, death to me is a spiritual journey. So nobody can deal with it… No amount of kind words, consoling words,” he said.

“It is always a spiritual journey between the mother, father, brother, sister.”

He also suggested that the bodies be cremated, noting the caskets of those who died would have to stay closed during the funerals because of the extent of the damage to the remains.