Fire chief defends men’s performance in JDV house fire

An official of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) defended yesterday the performance of the Makati City fire department in their failed attempt to rescue the youngest daughter of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. from the fire that hit their home Thursday night.

Superintendent Ruben Morales, BFP District 3 fire marshall, admitted however that there is a dire need for more fire-fighting equipment amid the BFP’s limited budget.

Morales came to Makati City Jejomar Binay’s defense as the city government was alleged to provide inadequate support to its firemen even as it is considered the country’s richest.

"They are quick to criticize," Morales said. "Maybe some of these people are not even properly paying their taxes, that explains why the government has a big fiscal deficit and the BFP is unable to purchase all the equipment it needs," he said.

Morales said his men should not be blamed for the death of De Venecia’s 16-year-old daughter Kristina Casimira, or "KC," who died of suffocation after she was trapped inside her brother’s room as flames engulfed the De Venecia residence in the upscale Dasmariñas Village.

"After all that we have done, risking our lives," lamented Morales.

But as fate would have it, KC did not survive, he said. "We did everything we could. That is the fate of the Speaker’s daughter. God takes the life of any man in His own way, at His own time and not man’s way," Morales said.

Carissa Cruz, half-sister of KC, earlier told reporters that she arrived at the same time as the firemen at around 11 p.m., or some 30 minutes after the fire broke out.

Carissa was the last person KC spoke to as she was desperately waited for rescuers to arrive. Flames engulfed the main staircase of the house, preventing KC’s escape.

Carissa noted how the firefighters seemingly lacked the necessary tools to cut through the iron grills that secured the bedroom windows.

But Morales said they have the tools like bolt cutters and circular saw. He added that the Makati City fire department "has the fastest record in putting out fires."

Chief Inspector Rachel Avilla, acting Makati City fire department chief, earlier said the "heavily secured infrastructure area" was one of the problems the firemen encountered in penetrating the second floor — the window grills and the lone fire escape at the back of the house were padlocked.

Also, the curtains, carpets and other pieces of furniture emitted thick black smoke, making it difficult for responding firemen to enter the house.