False fire alarm disrupts Sandiganbayan hearings

Sandiganbayan employees and other persons doing business inside the building were asked to vacate the premises on Monday after the fire alarm went off due to a minor electrical problem.

Justices, lawyers, and persons working on cases occupy the vacant area near the Sandiganbayan’s parking area. As a result, court hearings were partially disrupted. People were allowed to reenter as the building minutes later after the area was declared safe from fire. Hearings promptly resumed. Building authorities said the alarm was set off by a faulty electrical switch which tripped. No smoke came out of the switch. /ee