Valenzuela mayor, factory owner face criminal raps over Kentex blaze

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to file graft charges against Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian and seven other individuals including the factory owner for being responsible for the deadly Kentex fire last May.

The seven Valenzuela officials accused were included in the charge sheet before the Sandiganbayan after the Ombudsman learned that the business permits and Fire Safety Inspection Certificates were issued by city officials despite blatant violations of the Fire Code and factory’s deficiencies. 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered to charge Gatchalian, two officials from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), four officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Kentex Manufacturing Corp. owner Ong King Guan also known as “Terence King Ong.”

The Ombudsman said Gatchalian, Guan, City Marshal Mel Jose Lagan, Senior Inspector Edgrover Oculam, Fire Safety Inspectors Rolando Avendan, Ramon Maderazo, officer in charge of BPLO Renchi May Padayao and BPLO Licensing Officer Eduardo Carreon  violated Sections 3(e) and 3(j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act  and committed reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple physical injuries. They are now facing multiple counts of violations of these acts 10 months after the Kentex factory that killed more than 70 workers and injured others.

The Omdbusman’s probe revealed that Kentex failed to install a wet standpipe system, have unserviceable extinguishers, lacked automatic fire alarm and sprinkler system, and did not have fire exit drills for workers. These were also proven by the Kentex fire survivors in their affidavits.

“Kentex’s exit gates were locked or padlocked; there were no water sprinklers, fire extinguishers or fire alarms; and Kentex’s windows were enclosed with grills,” witnesses recounted.

“In 2014, Kentex was inspected by BFP [Valenzuela] twice” and “on both occasions, its fire safety measures were declared deficient,” the joint resolution read,

The Ombudsman said the Valenzuela officials permitted Kentex to continue its operations despite the lack of safety measures.

“The respondents’ acts or omissions, taken together, indicate a common understanding among them to turn a blind eye to Kentex’s delinquency and its foreseeable consequences,” Morales said.

Morales added that Kentex owner Ong, on the other hand, “cannot evade criminal liability for the loss of lives” as “the safety of all persons and all operations within the premises rested upon his shoulders.”

Last March 5, the Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal Gatchalian and six other officials for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty over the Kentex fire.