Belmonte goes after 'death trap' funhouses

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has ordered the city police to investigate reports that certain entertainment and amusement establishments could turn into “death traps” because of the type of doors they use.

“Mayor Belmonte does not want a repeat of the infamous Ozone disco tragedy,” City Treasurer Victor Endriga said, referring to a fire that killed 160 people inside the Ozone disco along Tomas Morato street several years ago.

He likened these nightspots’ doors to prison gates made of solid steel and hard wood, with a double-lock mechanism. Endriga said a customer has to learn a code of knocks to get the doorman to open the door, which only swings inward or outward, and is more often than not barred.

 “The customers are like prisoners in the nightspots, particularly in the Cubao area,” Endriga said. “I believe that nightspot owners use these kinds of doors as a counter-offense against the commando-style operations of police in raiding lewd shows.”

He said that according to a city ordinance, entrance and exit doors of high-risk establishments such as nightspots and cinemas must be swing-type to prevent incidents like the Ozone disco tragedy. – Perseus Echeminada