DILG starts Caloocan mall fire inquiry

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) started yesterday its investigation into the cause of the fire that razed the Ever Gotesco Grand Central mall in Caloocan City.

Al Sta. Maria, Caloocan City public safety and traffic management chief, said the DILG inter-agency anti-arson task force has tapped the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police in its investigation.

He said the tenants and employees of the mall were barred from entering the building yesterday pending a clearance on the integrity of the building.

Sta. Maria said arson probers were also sifting evidence to determine the real cause of the fire.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo gave the inter-agency task force 45 days to finish its investigation.

Sta. Maria said Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri has offered mall tenants a relocation site but the management of the mall has yet to coordinate with the city government.

The fire, which broke out before 11 p.m. last Friday, was put out after nearly four days.

Superintendent Oscar de Asis, the city fire marshal, was sacked from his post last Tuesday after Robredo expressed dismay over the Caloocan firefighters’ failure to put out the fire within a short period of time. There were allegations that De Asis was drunk at the time the fire broke out.

Superintendent Jeremy Diaz was named acting Caloocan fire chief.