1 dead, 16 injured in fire at Municipal Trial Court in Minglanilla, Cebu

One person died while 16 were injured after they were trapped when a fire broke out at the Municipal Trial Court in Minglanilla, Cebu on Tuesday, according to a GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak reported by John Consulta on "Saksi" Wednesday.

Firefighters said the fire spread quickly because of the papers that were stored inside the office.

Judge Wilson Ibones and 15 employees were trapped inside the building.

The first to arrive at the scene was Traffic Enforcer Jay Arvin Pasadas but he could not enter the building because it was locked from the inside.

According to a traffic enforcer who was first on the scene, he found difficulty in rescuing the victims as the doors were locked from the inside.

“Pagtingin ko sa building ng Judge, may sumisigaw at nakalabas ang kamay. ‘Tulong, tulong, tulong,’” said the enforcer, Jay Arvin Pasadas in Cebuano.

(When I looked at the Judge’s building, someone was screaming and putting out their arms. ‘Help, help, help.’)

All 16 victims, who suffered from burns, were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The initial investigation of the BFP showed that an employee allegedly burned some documents for a still undetermined reason. 

The said employee was the last to be rescued from the fire and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

The BFP is investigating the incident.

“Hindi pa natin nai-declare na arson kasi we are still in the process pa ng investigation. To follow nito, kukuha pa tayo ng mga affidavit of witnesses na matukoy talaga na siya ang nagsimula sa apoy,” said Minglanilla Fire Marshall Fire Senior Inspector Bernadito Baruel.

(We can’t declare this as arson as we are still in the process of investigation. To follow this, we still need to get an affidavit of witnesses who can determine that he really started the fire.)

The Supreme Court has also ordered a probe into the incident and has pledged to assist the victims during the investigation.

“While a full-scale investigation is still ongoing, I assure Judge Ibones and the members of his staff who were injured in this unfortunate event that the Court will extend the necessary assistance to them,” said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News