Man suing over tanks near home

CEBU, Philippines - A “concerned” resident is bent on filing a petition for injunction to stop the operation of Petronas Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage tanks in Barangay Langtad, Naga City, Cebu.

Lawyer Julius Caesar Entise, on behalf of his client Zosimo Abaquita, said continued use of the tanks should stop because it violates Republic Act (RA) 9514, or the Comprehensive Fire Code of  the Philippines.

“We are going to file an injunction against Petronas nga mahunong gyud ang ilang (to really stop its) operation. It appears that they are already operating,” Entise told The FREEMAN yesterday.

He said Abaquita is also going after Senior Insp. Joel Abarquez, acting city fire marshall, before the Office of the Ombudsman for issuing a fire safety inspection certificate to Petronas.

Entise also asked the fire marshall whether the certificate given to Petronas for the storage tanks was issued in accordance with the requirements set by law.

The lawyer said that a formal letter was already sent to Abarquez last Dec. 28, giving the fire official until Wednesday next week to respond to their queries.

Entise said that under the law, the LPG storage tanks should be at least 122 meters from an adjacent container or important building and line of the adjoining property.

Petronas’ tanks allegedly are only about 65.5 meters from the neighboring property.

In a Nov. 14 letter, Entise also asked Petronas’ plant manager to also answer if  the company complied with all provisions of RA 9514 before getting its fire safety certificate.

“Our client and his family are residing at the vicinity where the LPG tanks are constructed. Our client fears for his safety and that of his family,” read the letter.

Atty. Nicanor Padilla, who replied on behalf of Petronas, said the company’s plant in Naga was built in strict compliance with the latest international and industry standards.

“Your client should have no reason to fear for his safety,” read Padilla’s Dec. 12 letter in response to Entise’s communication.  (FREEMAN)