Lawyer: Shutdown of Serendra gas system may have legal implications vs developer

Serendra Inc.'s recommendation to permanently shut down the centralized liquefied petroleum gas distribution system at the condominium complex in Taguig City after last month's deadly blast that was caused by a gas leak, may have legal implications against the firm, a lawyer said Wednesday.

Atty. Raymund Fortun, legal counsel of the victim and unit occupants of the condominium where a deadly explosion occurred last May 31, said: "Para sa akin, mayroong implied admission ito na defective ang kanilang system."

"At sinabi na rin ni Interior Secretary Mar Roxas na gas leak ang dahilan," the lawyer added in an interview with Kara David on "News To Go" Wednesday.

In a statment, Serendra Inc. said it recommended a permanent closure of the LPG distribution system for the occupant's safety.

"The... [recommendation] is borne out of its inability to fully control and ensure the continuing compliance by individual unit owners with the required safety measures within their units," the Ayala Land Inc. statement said.



"Mindful that its position may be unpopular and inconvenient for the Serendra community, the developer nonetheless considers the safety of the community as the paramount consideration for its recommendation," it added.

Fortun, however, insisted Serendra management's move is an admission that the gas distribution system was faulty... "even without the complete findings [yet] from the inter-agency task force, na inatasan na ipagpatuloy ang imbestigasyon... sila na ang kusang-loob na nagsasabing papalitan na nila ang mga gas range ng electric ranges."

Also, Fortun said the developer should not have blamed the residents for the accident.

"'Yung tungkulin o obligasyon para panatalihin 'yung compliance ng safety measures – for example, gas detector, iyan po ay nasa kapangyarihan ng Serendra mismo. Puwede po nilang puntahan ang unit on a regular basis, itse-check kung gumagana 'yung gas detector, hindi po ba?" he said.

"Hindi po ba obligasyon iyan ng building owner. So ngayon, ang lumalabas, kasi ang nagkulang raw ay ang mga unit owner... at isa-shut down na nila ang gas system," he added.

Meanwhile, Fortun said their camp has yet to file any complaint against Ayala Land Inc. while the investigation continues.

"You can only consider legal steps 'pag mayroon na talagang definite findings from investigators," he said.

"At this stage, wala pa po, kaya nga po nakapagtataka, considering na wala pang complete findings, Ayala is taking steps somehow to, quote-unquote, compensate lahat ng affected parties in this particular case... gumalaw na sila para i-shut down ang system," he added.

Three people were killed in the incident when the van they were riding was hit by a huge slab from the condo unit wall that fell on the road during the blast. — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News