NBI probing DPWH building fire, not ruling out any possibilities

The National Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the fire incident at the Department of Public Works and Highways office in Quezon City, NBI director Jaime Santiago said Thursday.    

“Ngayon po, babalik po ang aming team kasama ang forensic investigators para malaman natin kung ano ba talaga ang sanhi bakit nagkaroon ng ganoon,” Santiago told Super Radyo dzBB. 

(Now, our team will return together with the forensic investigators so that we can determine what really caused that incident.)

This came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla called on the NBI to determine the cause of the fire and whether arson was committed amid the probe into anomalous flood control projects.

Based on initial information, the fire started at the third floor of the building at 12:39 p.m. due to an “octopus electrical connection,” according to the director.

“Ganoon po. Mga unsafe, improper, hazardous use multiple electrical cords and extension wires, doon po nag-umpisa,” he said.

(The fire started from unsafe, improper, and hazardous use of multiple electrical cords and extension wires.)

LIVE sa DZBB: Dir. Jaime Santiago, director, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

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DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said based on the initial investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the blaze was due to an electrical failure.

“The BFP has given its initial result of its investigation, saying that there was an electrical failure in one of the ceilings on the third floor… so this also corrects the initial information that there was a computer unit that exploded,” he said in a press conference.

When asked if the NBI is not ruling out any foul play, Santiago said his office is looking at all possibilities.

“Hanggat hindi talaga na imbestigahan ng masusi, hindi namin niru-rule out lahat ng mga possibilities,” he said.

Santiago said the area is currently sealed amid the investigation.

(Until a thorough investigation is conducted, we are not ruling out any possibilities.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News