Senator Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III questions the decision of the Sandiganbayan to clear former Quezon City engineer Alfredo Macapugay from charges of reckless imprudence in connection with the Ozone Disco fire that killed more than 160 people on March 18, 1996.
The Senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, expressed his concern over the acquittal of Macapugay, whose alleged failure to ensure the safety of the disco house’s plans and facilities during its construction and renovation in 1991 and 1992 respectively, resulted to tragedy that had claimed the lives of more than 160 people, many of whom were high school or college students. Subsequent investigations determined that the fire exit was blocked by a new building adjacent to the Ozone disco.
“For more than a decade now, the families of the victims who perished in the Ozone blaze have been seeking justice not only to pacify their loved ones, but also to spare other families from the suffering that they continue to endure. They relied on our courts to apprehend the erring city government official, but sadly, the acquittal of Macapugay shows that their efforts may have been for naught.”
“The Ozone tragedy was a result of neglect and complacency, as manifested by the failure of city officials like Macapugay in ensuring that city establishments met prescribed safety standards. His acquittal seems to deprive our citizens of the assurance that such a tragedy will not happen again. If we cannot hold our city officials accountable for their misdemeanor, how can we preclude similar unfortunate incidents from happening in the future?”
July 29, 2008
Follow us on: