Bulacan church mezzanine declared 'condemned'

City building officials declared the mezzanine of the St. Peter the Apostle Church "condemned" or unsafe and unfit for use following a collapse of a portion in the middle of mass on Ash Wednesday.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," the church's second floor will be temporarily off-limits.

Building officials who examined the area found termite damage, which weakened the wood supporting part of the mezzanine.  Due to this, they fear that the rest of the second floor has also become fragile.

“Kinocondemn na namin lahat ng kahoy because of infestations ang cause ng pagbagsak ay termite infestation. Irerecommend namin sa church na palitan ng flooring steel o concrete kung pwede pa ring wooden pero treated. Permanent structure ang concrete," said Pavel Halog, the city architect.

(We are condemning all the wood because of infestations; the cause of the collapse is termite infestation. We recommend that the church replace the flooring with steel or concrete. If they will still use, it has to be treated. Concrete is a permanent structure.)

The authorities will examine the building until Sunday to determine if masses can be held in the church again.

"It will have to depend on the go signal of the city government," Bishop Dennis Villarojo said.

The church roof, which has steel support, was also inspected, to ensure its safety.

Meanwhile, the family of 80-year-old Luneta Morales, who died in the incident will not file a complaint.

Morales died on Wednesday when the second floor of the church collapsed.

“Wala namang dapat sisihin (There's no one to blame),” Mayor Arthur Robes said.

Four victims remained in critical condition, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Gina Ayson said earlier.  The 51 others who were injured have been treated and have returned to their homes.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News