24 charged with graft for Manor fire

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges yesterday against a former city engineer of Quezon City and 23 others, including the owners of Manor Hotel, in connection with the fire that gutted down the establishment and claimed the lives of 74 persons on Aug. 18. 2001.

Acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio said a three-man panel of investigators found probable cause to indict former Quezon City Engineer Alfredo Macapugay of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also charged were Manor Hotel owners William Genato, his wife Rebecca, hotel officers Porfirio Germina, Marion Fernandez, Dionisio Arengino, Antonio Beltran and Candelaria Aranador.

On the other hand, the Ombudsman cleared former Quezon City fire chief Superintendent Carlito Romero, Chief Inspector Ricardo Lemence, Julius Villanueva, Patricio Dumlao, Winston Angeles, Luis Sol Jr. and Ernesto Madrilejo for "insufficiency of evidence."

Gervacio said there is probable cause that Macapugay gave unwarranted benefits to the Genato couple for "deliberately dispensing with the annual inspection of the Manor Hotel to determine compliance with the structural, fire and safety requirements provided by the National Building Code and the Fire Code of the Philippines."

He also noted that Macapugay failed to impose sanctions and closure proceedings against the hotel despite prior knowledge of repeated violations committed by its owners from 1996 to 2001.

Six counts of graft were also filed against Quezon City building official Romeo Montallana for conspiring with Macapugay in giving unwarranted benefit to the Genato couple, Germina, Fernandez, Arengino, Beltran and Aranador. Findings showed he did not conduct the annual inspection of the hotel relative to the efficiency and safety of the electrical system from 1996 to 2001 as well as to determining whether it conforms with the requirements provided under the Fire Code of the Philippines.

Gervacio also approved the filing of one graft charge before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against Gerardo Villasenor and Rodel Mesa for allegedly conspiring with Macapugay and Montallana for giving the Manor Hotel unwarranted benefits.

Also indicted were Romualdo Santos, Donato Rivera, Rafael Galvez, Godfrey Colet, Voltaire Padilla, Jose Caluag, Will Jarez, Manuel Baduria Jr., Reynaldo Simpao, Wenceslao Romero and Teodorico Gaela.