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A police official on Friday said families of the victims of the
Glorietta 2 blast in October 2007, can still file cases and seek
damages even if the Ayalas end up being spared criminal charges to
be filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Glorietta blast was blamed by the police on
a buildup of methane, rather than a bomb explosion. The PNP has
already filed criminal and administrative charges on mall officials,
building maintenance crew, and officials of the Makati Fire
Department, among others.
In a report of the Philippine News Agency,
Director Geary Barias, National Capital Region Police Office chief,
said the families of the 11 people killed and the more than 100
injured in the October 19 explosion—which authorities have
concluded was caused by a build-up of methane gas in the mall’s
basement—can seek damages against the owners and executives of the
Ayala Land Inc.
“The family of the victims can always file a
civil case against the Ayala[s] if they felt their rights have been
violated,” he said in an interview.
The Ayalas were not included in the list bared
by the PNP on Thursday of persons to be charged criminally for the
deadly Glorietta 2 explosion.
Only building engineers and officials in charge
of sewage tank repairs were charged with negligence resulting in
multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries.
Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the
Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force, earlier said those
responsible for the maintenance of the Glorietta 2 mall would be
facing cases ranging from criminal negligence and gross neglect of
duty to violations of the fire code.
Authorities said 15 people, excluding the Ayalas,
would be charged criminally and administratively for the October 19
blast at the Glorietta 2 that killed 11 people and injured scores.
On the other hand, Justice Secretary Raul
Gonzalez said he would personally review the complaint, together
with Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, to see if the right
people were charged with the complaint for reckless imprudence and
negligence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and
damage to properties.
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