School faces charges over fire: 7 Tuguegarao City executives rapped, too

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of charges against a Catholic-run university, along with at least seven local officials, in connection with last month’s hotel fire in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan that killed 16 people, including 10 male nursing graduates of the school.

Regional state prosecutor Rommel Baligod said the University of La Salette in Santiago City, Isabela faces administrative charges for the death of its nursing students who died in the fire that engulfed the Bed and Breakfast Pension House in the early morning of Dec. 19. 

Parents of the male nursing graduates have partly blamed the school for the death of their children, as it billeted the victims in the hotel without allegedly ensuring first its safety standards. 

The nursing graduates were set to take their two-day licensure examination on that fateful day when the tragedy struck.

The lodging house reportedly lacked proper fire exits, had defective door knobs and its windows were enclosed with iron grills had prevented the victims from escaping from the five-hour blaze.

The DOJ-led fact-finding team also found out that the five-story pension house also had no fire safety permit from the local office of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP). 

“(The university) would be facing possible administrative charges for negligence. But it is up to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) now to file such a case based on our findings,” he said.

Concerned university officials could not be immediately reached for comment. However, based on earlier statements, they denied any negligence on their part but said they were willing to answer allegations as to their possible liability in the proper forum. 

The fact-finding team also recommended the filing of administrative charges against Ireneo Taguibao, city business permit licensing officer; Emilio Matanguihan, city engineer; Ruben Flores, electrical inspector; and Leonida Badajos, records officer, for allowing the hotel to operate even in the absence of regular inspection to ensure its safety standards.

The fact-finding team also did not spare Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting of possible administrative charges for command responsibility.

The DOJ panel also recommended that charges be slapped against then city fire marshal Superintendent Neil Caraguian and Senior Fire Officer Paulino Camacam, then the chief fire arson investigator, for neglect of duty. 

The two officials, along with the city’s entire BFP personnel, had been relieved by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo following the blaze to pave the way for an impartial probe, as ordered by President Aquino himself amid allegations of lapses by the BFP, the city government and other concerned parties.

The hotel owners, Pepito Fondevila, 60, and his wife, Araceli, 61, and their two children and two grandchildren also died in the fire.

The Fondevila couple also faced criminal liabilities for negligence and imprudence that resulted in multiple homicide and physical injuries.

“It would be the police who will file the criminal charges against the couple before the prosecutor’s office,” Baligod said. 

Earlier, the DILG’s inter-agency and anti-arson task force, which also conducted its parallel investigation, also recommended before the DOJ the filing of charges against the same individuals in connection with the fire.

– With Raymund Catindig