Five inspectors relieved over Tuguegarao fire

TUGUEGARAO CITY — A day after the city fire marshal was relieved, the five fire inspectors were dismissed from their posts over Sunday's fire that killed 16 people, including 10 nursing graduates who were about to take a licensure exam in the city. Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano Jr., Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Cagayan Valley regional head, said the inspectors were relieved for failing to respond immediately to the fire that gutted the Bed and Breakfast pension house on December 19. The fire inspectors were temporarily detailed at the Cagayan provincial fire department. Soriano said central office fire department officials gave a five-day deadline to complete the investigation on the fire tragedy. City Fire Marshall Neil Caranguian was relieved from his post on Monday. Fire Chief Superintendent Rolando Bandilla Jr., BFP chief, said Caranguian was dismissed to prevent him from influencing the investigation. Caranguian was temporarily replaced by Fire Supt. Jesus Fernandez, the provincial director of the Cagayan fire department bureau. Supt. Pedro Martirez, Tuguegarao police chief, said the fire officials have not yet formally charged because of the ongoing ‘parallel investigation’ with the justice and interior and local government departments. The parallel investigation would last for 15 days and if the fire agency would find the officials and inspectors liable, they would be facing criminal and administrative proceedings. – VVP, GMANews.TV