Hall of Justice in CDO razed to the ground, 2 dead

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Hall of Justice in this city was razed to the ground after a fire started around 9:35 pm on Friday, January 30, killing two people.

It was declared fire out after 6 hours around 2:30 am Saturday, January 31, but firemen from the City Fire Department stayed on as the fire appeared to be rekindled.

Authorities said two bodies were retrieved from the building – those of security guard Benjamin Buna and Jeffrey Uban, a court aide who was working overtime.

Cagayan de Oro Fire Marhsall Shirley Teleron told the media that their office received the call around 9:30 pm.

The firemen were having a hard time penetrating the two-storey building after evidence consisting of firearms, ammunitions, and explosives started to explode.

City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said there are indeed ammunitions and grenades stored in their evidence rooms, but he has yet to confirm how many were present during the time of the fire.

The evidence explosives set off a series of multiple explosions.

Around 9 am Saturday – 12 hours after the fire started – the firemen who were still pumping water had to duck after a series of explosions coming in from the right wing of the building.

Dennis Allan Poe, Chief of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team, had recommended that the building be allowed to “cool down” by pumping more water into it before they enter the building.

Fire Inspector Arnold Lagbas also said until the EOD clears the area, he could not risk the lives of his firemen and let them enter the building.

Fire hazard

The Hall of Justice has been deemed a fire hazard as stacks and rows upon rows of paper and evidence records are stored in every alleyway, in every corner, and in every inch of available space.

“This is really a fire hazard because every time we come here, there are papers all over the place; these feed off the blaze,” Lagbas said.

The two-decade-old building holds 28 court offices in all.

Cost of justice

Macauyag also called on those who have pending cases to bear with them as the fire will surely delay the delivery of justice.

Judge Arthur Abundiente of Branch 25 said he pities those who are in jail, for the incident may prolong the delivery of justice and cause much anguish for those who are expecting quick resolution of their cases.

“Not only for the accused but also for the plaintiff, this will surely take its toll on them,” Abundiente said.

Macauyag said they will take the long and tedious process of reconstituting cases, and this could delay the disposition of cases.

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Congressman Rufus Rodriguez visited the Hall of Justice Saturday morning and talked with Prosecutor General Claro Arellano while the firemen were pumping water into the building.

Rodriguez asked Arellano to release funds for the rental of new buildings that will serve temporarily as the Hall of Justice.

“We need to start the transfer of the Hall of Justice as soon as Monday so we can move with the reconstituting of the cases,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez added that high profile cases which are being heard in the Hall of Justice include the Aman Futures scam, the alleged Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias “Marwan” for his bombing cases in Cagayan de Oro city, the extrajudicial killing involving 4 police officers, and drug cases.

Recovery

Cabanlas said the court must recover whatever it can recover inside the building. He fears there might be looters who will take advantage of the situation.

Although they already want to start the recovery process, Cabanlas said they just cannot enter the building because there is no clearance for them to enter.

“We want to recover our staff who [we] fear perished last night, and also recover our evidences,” Cabanlas said. – Rappler.com