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[av_heading heading=’NBI to probe Davao mall fire ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – The Department of Justice yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the fire at the NCCC Mall in Davao City.
One person was confirmed dead as of yesterday while at least 36 others trapped in the shopping mall were feared dead in the blaze that started on Saturday morning.
Authorities had said there was “zero” chance of surviving the fire. Many of those trapped were employees of a business process outsourcing company.
Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he directed NBI director Dante Gierran to determine the presence of any criminal liability that led to the fire and the resulting loss of lives.
“The NBI was ordered to file the necessary cases against any party determined to be responsible,” Aguirre said. “The loss of lives and the resulting damage underscore the need to determine if someone is at fault and should be held liable.”
“By punishing those responsible, the government can set an example to others so that, hopefully, there will be no repetition of these tragedies,” he added. “For now, I respectfully request everyone to continue praying for all those affected by this tragedy.”
The fire swept through the four-story NCCC Mall. Some of those inside managed to get on the roof and then climb down a billboard framework on the side of the building, where they were later rescued. The cause was not yet known as of press time.
President Rodrigo Duterte went to Davao City on Saturday night to comfort the distraught relatives of the victims.
Senators expressed sympathy to the families of the victims.
“I cannot express with words the grief that I share with the families of those trapped inside NCCC,” Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said. “I still hope for the best possible outcome. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time.”
One body – that of a call center agent for Survey Sampling International – was recovered from the burning four-story building on Sunday morning, news reports said.
Pimentel recognized the bravery of firefighters who engaged in the rescue operations.
He also asked the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to thoroughly investigate the cause.
“I want to know why they were trapped, and if there was anything we could have done to avoid this,” said Pimentel. “I look forward to the report of BFP and see if we need to update our fire safety regulations to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.”
Joseph Victor Ejercito, meanwhile, appealed for prayers for those who died in “tragic events” before Christmas.
“So many tragedies happened just before Christmas – typhoon ‘Urduja’ in the Visayas, typhoon ‘Vinta’ in Mindanao, and now the NCCC Mall fire in Davao City. So many casualties.
“Let us remember and pray for those who perished,” Ejercito said./PN
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