Fire hits Muntinlupa City Hall

A massive fire of undetermined origin on Friday hit the Muntinlupa City Hall and a nearby residential area. Government employees inside the city hall scrambled to get out as the fire grew, dzMM radio said. Only a few firetrucks were seen in the area shortly before 1 p.m. The radio report quoted Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro as saying that the fire most likely started from a residence behind the city hall. Local government employees were seen running out of the building carrying their personal belongings and various documents. GMA News reported that the incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. Firemen raised the the general alarm before putting out the blaze at 3 p.m., or more than three hours after it started. Radio station dzBB reported that the blaze threatened to gut the entire city hall. Last month, a nephew of presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, city administrator Roberto Bunye, was shot and wounded in an ambush. San Pedro said he also received threats to his life. The mayor said the threats may have come from traders with whom he crossed paths when he had the viaduct cleaned. - GMANews.TV