Fire hits Marikina hotel

A 30-minute fire hit a two-story hotel owned by the father of Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando at the city’s Riverbank business center the other night.

Arson investigators said nobody was hurt in the fire that damaged property estimated at P400,000.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at the second floor of the Riverbend Hotel at about 11:57 p.m. last Thursday.

The hotel, located along the Riverbank commercial center at A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangay Tañong, is owned by the mayor’s father, businessman Meneleo Carlos.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Guests at the hotel claimed that the building lacked fire alarms.

"Hindi namin alam na may sunog. Mabuti maliit pa ang apoy ng namalayan namin at nakalabas kaagad kami ng building," one guest told TV reporters.

The mayor’s husband, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando said, however that two-storey building can operate without a fire alarm.

At least eight fire trucks from the Marikina City fire department rushed to the area to fight off the blaze.

The fire was placed under control at 12:27 a.m.