Joint probe starts on deadly Tuguegarao hotel fire

Authorities began a joint investigation on Monday to determine the persons responsible for the deadly predawn hotel fire that killed at least 15 people Sunday. Cagayan Valley (Region 2) deputy regional fire chief Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano Jr. said the Tuguegarao City and city fire marshal will lead the investigation. "Magkakaroon ng joint inspection ang Office of the City Mayor at Office of the City Fire Marshal para malaman kung saan may lapses, pati sa owner kung may lapses, para malaman sino ang dapat managot," Soriano said in an interview on dzXL radio on Monday. (There will be a joint inspection led by the Offices of the City Mayor and City Fire Marshal to pinpoint lapses, including those of the owner. The inspection aims to find out who should face charges for the tragedy.) He said their initial findings showed that the fire started at a motorcycle shop near the "bed and breakfast" pension house in Tuguegarao City at about 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.

At least 15 people were killed, including nine graduates who were about to take a nursing licensure exam; and six relatives of the owners of the hotel. Soriano identified the nine nursing graduates as:

Richard Gonzales;

Francis Caranabas;

Marlon Viernes;

Henderson Leodil;

Jefferson Lopez;

Ryan James Malaki;

Romualdo Respicio;

Nelmar Galapia, and

Jerome Saet. "May nagsitakbo sa banyo, ang iba sa kwarto talaga. Nag-suffocate talaga sila (Some of them ran to the comfort room, some were found inside their rooms. They suffocated)," he said. The other six were believed members of the Fondevilla household, four of whom were initially identified as Cecilia, Norman, Karylle, and Dios. Soriano said the other two included one Jennifer, believed to be the caretaker; and two minors whom he did not immediately name. Hotel owners Pete Fondevilla and his wife are being treated at St. Paul Hospital in the city, he added. Five survivors tried to take exams A report on dwIZ radio said five survivors of the fire tried to take the licensure exams. They asked the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) to let them take the exam even if they were not in uniform. The report said the five explained that their uniforms were left at the hotel. However, the report said the PRC representative told them to take the exam next year but without paying an additional cost. – VVP, GMANews.TV