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Valenzuela mayor ready to face raps over deadly Kentex fire




Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Thursday said he is ready to face the charges that a special panel of the Department of Justice recommended to be filed against him in line with last May's fire at the two-story slipper factory that left 72 people dead.
 
A News TV Live report quoted Gatchalian as saying he was not surprised by the DOJ panel's recommendations announced earlier in the day.
 
The said panel said Gatchalian, along with two other local officials, should be charged for violation of Section 11.2.a (4) and (5) of Republic ACt 9514 of the Fire Code of the Philippines.
 
It also recommended separate charges against Gatchalian and five others for violation of Section 3 (3) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices ACt, in line with giving Kentex Manufacturing Corporation a business permit even when it did not have a fire safety inspection certificate.
 
According to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the recommendations made by the special panel will still undergo a preliminary investigation by the DOJ to determine whether cases would be filed in court.
 
Gatchalian earlier said the permit they provided was provisional, and was allowed under the rules set by the Department of Interior and Local Government. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News
 
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