An enforcer of the Minglanilla Traffic Commission is set to receive recognition from the Local Government Unit of Minglanilla, Cebu Province for saving the lives of 11 employees of the Municipal Trial Court.

The 11 workers were trapped inside the MTCC building set allegedly on fire by a 60-year-old employee past noon of December 12, 2023.

Mayor Rajiv Enad urged the Municipal Council to honor Jay Arvin Pasadas with a commendation for his heroic act that saved 11 lives. 

Pasadas who was on-duty at that time heard shouts calling for help from the second floor of the MTCC building at around noontime.

He saw smoke billowing from the second floor and hands flailing from spaces, waving at people to attract attention.

He ran for the building’s door but had to kick it hard as it was locked. When he reached the second floor, the door was also locked. He had to kick it hard a couple of times. 

As soon as the door flung open, he said, an MTC judge collapsed on the floor. 

The judge, identified as Wilson T. Ibones,  was taken to the hospital along with other employees who had inhaled toxic fumes and sustained burns.

Arson was determined as the cause of the fire, according to a spot report by Police Captain Kalvin Golitod, Minglanilla Police chief.

Golitod said that the fire was not an accident based on witnesses’ accounts on an employee who started allegedly the fire.

The suspect, who died in the fire, was identified as Jose Mesa Agusto, 60 years old, married, a resident of Barangay Panadtaran, San Fernando town, and an employee of the Municipal Trial Court.

The report said that it was Judge Ibones who saw Agusto lit documents under his table using a lighter.

The judge asked one Darwin Rondina to stop Agusto.

However, instead of heeding Rondina, Agusto got a fluorescent tube and attacked Rondina, reportedly.

Agusto hit him in the head, and struck Judge Ibones next.

While Agusto was attacking colleagues, the fire also ignited the combustibles. The commotion sparked panic, as well, among employees.

The employees ran for their lives, but when they reached the door they could not open it as it was locked.

Pasadas who was manning the traffic responded to the calls for help.