Prosecutors appeal Gatchalian’s exoneration

Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian FILE PHOTO

State prosecutors have appealed the Sandiganbayan’s dismissal of the criminal case against Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian over the 2015 Kentex fire tragedy, maintaining the mayor should not have issued the slipper factory a business permit.

In an 18-page motion for reconsideration, the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor took exception to the Second Division’s finding of lack of probable cause to put the graft and reckless imprudence cases to trial.

The court on Dec. 13 held that Gatchalian was simply following the city ordinance that allowed the issuance of business permits without requiring first a fire safety inspection certificate. —VINCE F. NONATO/rga