‘Illegal wire tapping caused Ermita fire’

ILLEGAL wire tapping was identified as the cause of the fire that hit barangay Ermita last April 26, initial results of the Bureau of Fire Prevention investigation said yesterday.

A witness whom police declined to identify recounetd that she heard “an explosion” and smelled “rubber” at the second floor of the house of a certain Toribio “Bayoy” Flores.

Flores said he was out to buy diapers for his 11-month old daughter when the fire broke out. His daughter died in the fire. He said it was his neighbors who told him that a fire hit his home.

He said he stayed in Carbon with his siblings after the incident. Senior Fire Officer Fortunato Bucia said Flores forgot to eat his meals and appeared lost during the investigation, showing photos of his daughter.

Bucia said Barangay Ermita was one of the areas where illegal wire-tapping was prevalent. He said it is an elevated area where meter connections are placed outside.

Theresa Sederiosa, Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) corporate communications manager, said it is the responsibility of the Office of the Building Official to inspect and determine where to place the electrical wirings of a house.