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P3M in property lost to fire at PAL union building


Fire of still undetermined origin razed the four-story union building of the Philippine Airlines in the Baclaran area in Parañaque City early Wednesday. No one was initially reported injured in the fire, arson investigators said, adding they are not discounting the possibility the fire may be related to an ongoing labor dispute at PAL. Metro Manila fire marshal Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta said a second possibility is that a candle left unattended or an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire. The old building of the PAL Employees’ Association (PALEA), located along Tomas Claudio Street in Baclaran, was described as semi-abandoned. “We will see if the fire stemmed from an improvised appliance some tenants were using. We are also looking into the labor-management conflict at PAL. That is part of our investigation," Cordeta said in an interview aired on dzBB. He estimated the damage to property at P3 million. PALEA and PAL management are embroiled in a labor dispute stemming from management’s plan to outsource non-core services, a move which according to the union would result in job losses. Malacañang has assumed jurisdiction over the case. “We talked to the spouses of some union members and they said some of them were staying in the building before the fire," Cordeta said. Also, Cordeta said fire investigators are not discounting the possibility that “infighting" among factions in the union could be the cause of the fire. “Yan ay kasama sa ating investigation (That will also be part of our investigation)," he said. An initial investigation showed the fire, which started at about 7:12 a.m., had reached Task Force Charlie before it was placed under control after 8 a.m. Cordeta said the building was semi-abandoned, with some informal settlers staying inside. — LBG, GMANews.TV.

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