Families of 23 Ormoc fire victims accept cash settlement

The families of at least 23 fatalities in the Christmas Day fire that hit the Unitop mall in Ormoc City in Leyte have each accepted a P135,000 settlement offer from the mall owners. Sun-Star Cebu (sunstar.com.ph) quoted National Bureau of Investigation officials as saying this development may hamper the prosecution of the case if the victims and witnesses do not cooperate. Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla confirmed that the families of fire victims and representatives of Unitop General Merchandising met behind closed doors Friday and "settled everything." Codilla said the parties concerned "already signed documents" covering the settlement. However, he said Unitop must still answer for not complying with fire safety standards and for illegally selling firecrackers. Also, NBI Eastern Visayas director Antonio Pagatpat maintained the settlement only covers civil liabilities, and that criminal prosecution will continue, if warranted. "That settlement will not affect the establishment of probable cause ... A criminal case cannot be subjected to a settlement," he said. At least 25 persons died in the fire that hit the Unitop mall in the afternoon of Christmas Day. Investigation showed the mall violated at least two fire safety regulations. Corazon Laudeza, whose niece died three days after the fire, admitted in an interview that her family had accepted Unitop’s offer. She said representatives of at least 23 victims were there and opted to accept the cash settlement. The families of four other victims have yet to decide on the offer, amid efforts to verify these victims’ identities, Sun-Star reported. Laudeza’s niece, Maria Teresa Tarayo, was the latest fatality. She died at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Ormoc Sugar Planters’ Association hospital last Dec. 28. Tarayo’s son, Anton Curt, is still in critical condition inside the intensive care unit (ICU). Laudeza said they accepted the P135,000 Friday. Unitop has also promised to pay for Maria Teresa and Anton Curt’s medical bills. They also signed a quit claim. Apart from the P135,000 from Unitop, Laudeza said, Mayor Codilla also gave the families of those who died P5,000 each. The Social Security System also released P20,000 for the burial of each of the victims. Other families have yet to claim the cash benefits. Funeral parlor owner Vincent Rama had to keep telling the relatives to comply with requirements, like proof of their relationship with the victim. The relatives told Rama they still need to travel just to secure marriage licenses and birth certificates of some of the victims. - GMANews.TV