Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Benigno Aquino III on Monday (June 1) lambasted Valenzuela City officials for a factory fire that killed 72 people last May 13.
In a media conference on Monday, Aquino slammed Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian for issuing a business permit to Kentex Manufacturing Corp., the owner of the factory, despite its noncompliance with fire safety standards.
Related: DOLE finds labor violations at Kentex’s main office
Gatchalian, according to Aquino, could be held liable for the tragedy and could be charged for the deaths in the fire.
This is the third worst fire in Philippine history after the Ozone Disco Club fire in 1996 and the Manor Hotel fire in Quezon City in 2001. The incidents killed 162 and 75 people, respectively.
“For instance, the local government unit knows that the fire safety inspection certificate is a requirement. But you gave them [Kentex] a business permit and a certificate of occupancy even if they didn’t have a fire safety inspection certificate,” Aquino stressed.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima also echoed Aquino’s assessment as she questioned several violations that the mayor and other city officials might have committed in relation with issuance of permits and compliance with regulations.
Why did the local government unit issue a business permit without the fire safety inspection certificate, which is a mandatory requisite? Why did that happen? And how many times has this happened before?” she said.
Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), meanwhile, lashed back at Aquino Monday and accused him of “being selective in his call for accountability over the Kentex factory fire.”
The group also went farther and pinned the blame on the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
According to KMU, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II are “among those who are most responsible for the deaths of many workers.”
“Baldoz should be held responsible because her agency granted Kentex a certificate of compliance in relation to occupational health and safety standards and general labor standards a few months before the factory fire,” KMU said.
Related: DOLE also liable in Kentex footwear factory fire
Roxas, on the other hand, should be held liable because the Bureau of Fire Protection, an agency under his department, allowed Kentex to operate despite the factory’s noncompliance with fire safety standards and failed to notify the Valenzuela City Hall of the violation, the labor group added.
DILG report done
Meanwhile, Roxas confirmed that the DILG had already turned over its inter-agency report on the fire to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
De Lima said she would form a special panel of prosecutors to review the DILG report. It is only after the review that criminal and administrative cases may be filed.
Related: Labor group demands justice for Kentex fire victims
Among the possible charges are reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries and violation against the anti-graft and corrupt practices, De Lima explained.
In an effort to prevent a repeat of the tragedy, Aquino has given orders to inspect around 300,000 establishments in Metro Manila to ensure that all businesses are in compliance with fire safety standards.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
