Task force reenacts events that allegedly led to the Valenzuela factory fire  

The Inter Agency Anti-Arson Task Force on Tuesday had the welder, whose activities allegedly started the Valenzuela City factory fire that killed 72 people, reenact his actions just prior to the fire breaking out, GMA 7 news program “24 Oras” reported.

 

 

The welder's activities allegedly set fire to a stack of stored chemicals, with the fire eventually gutting the entire factory.

 

However, the welder's legal counsel, Atty. John Caluso, insisted that his client's activities were carried out with the approval of the management of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation, owner of the factory.

“Ayaw ko makipagtalo sa abogado ng Kentex,” said Caluso. “Pero ang malinaw sa salaysay ng welder is bago siya magsimulang magtrabaho nilinaw muna niya sa kompanya ng Kentex kung mayroon bang mga flammable o dangerous materials.

 

“Kasi hindi naman magsisimulang gumawa ng welding kung may mga ganoon dahil mismong buhay o kapakanan ng welder ay malalagay din sa alanganin.”

 

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said they were still waiting for the Bureau of Fire Protection's report on whether Kentex Manufacturing complied with fire safety standards.

 

“Never kami binalikan ng BFP para sabihin sa 'min kung may findings sila. Ngayon na lang namin nalalaman na may findings pala sila pero in-endorse namin sa kanila 'yung papeles. Pero hindi sila nagkomento,” Gatchalian said.

 

The city government had also met with the Public Attorney's Office to find out how the city could further support the victims in the legal process.

 

“Ang aming process ay mediation muna, arbitration. In case mag-fail, ayun po, papasok tayo sa korte,” PAO Chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta said.

 

Various groups, including the PAO forensic lab, had offered to help in identifying the fire victims.

“Ito ay eksaminasyon ng mga buto. Kukuha kami ng biological profile at tsaka 'yung dental profile and then ico-compare namin doon sa antemortem data na kukunin doon sa mga relatives,” forensic analyst Atty. Erwin Erfe explained. — Andrei Medina/DVM/KG, GMA News