Ozone fire victims' 18-year wait for justice an isolated case—De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the delay incurred in the 18-year-old Ozone Disco fire trial was an "isolated case."

 

De Lima assured the public that the period of completion of preliminary investigations conducted by yhe DOJ are now being followed "strictly."

 

She added that sanctions like the withholding of allowances are being imposed on prosecutors who incur inordinate delays in resolving cases, both at the PI and petition for review stages.

 

"I'd like to think that the Ozone case is among the few isolated cases of such overly excessive duration," she said.

 

De Lima said significant steps and reforms have already been undertaken by the justice sector through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council, of which the Department of Justice is a member agency.

 

"Amendatory provisions had been inputted in the Rules of Court and the mandatory continuous trial system in criminal cases has been re-launched or given special focus or boost recently by the SC leadership," De Lima said.

 

In March 1996, at least 162 people died in a fire that razed the Ozone Disco in Quezon City. Most of the victims got trapped inside the establishment.

 

The Sandiganbayan sentenced two of the owners and seven former Quezon City officials to from six to ten years in prison after being found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. —Mark Merueñas/NB, GMA News