Progress Investigation Report

Jasper P. Germedia

March 4, 2013

MWF 7:30-8:30

Dr. Villenas Republic of the P hilippines DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Quezon City Fire Station Quezon City

MEMORANDUM FOR

:

S/Supt. Bobby V. Baruelo City Fire Marshall Quezon City

SUBJECT

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PROGRESS INVESTIGATION REPORT Re: Fire at house in Barangay C entral, Quezon City. Quezon City

DATE

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March 15, 2011

AUTHORITY: a. Current SOPs b. Section 50 of RA 6975 c. Mission Order Nr. 2011-98 dated February 19, 2011 MATTERS INVESTIGATED: a. The probable cause b. The perpetrator(s) if there is any c. The motive behind the occurence of fire FACTS OF THE CASE: 1. As initially stated in the Spot Investigation Report dated February 19, 2011, a fire put out at around 4 a.m. of February 19, 2011 at Sedilla residence, Barangay Central, Quezon City. The burnt property was owned by Sedilla family. 2. Police Officer 3 Venirando Trago, who was among those who went upstairs when the flames were put out, Senior Fire Officer 2 Fortunato Alde said the fire broke out at around 2:55 a.m. and reached third alarm before the fire was placed under control at 3:26 a.m. all six members of the household were dead after the occurrence of fire. 3. Firefighters identified them as cardiologist Dr. Elson Sedilla, 50; his wife, Susan, 50, a nonpracticing pediatrician; daughters Janina Nicole, 20, and Patricia Ann, 17; and househelpers Lenlen de Leon, 27, and Anna de Leon, 30. 4. An interview with Neighbor Mila Anige, who lives across the street, said she heard a female voice shouting for help. And Police Officer 3 Venirando Trago, who was among those who went upstairs when the flames were put out, said some of the victims were in an embrace while one of them was on top of  another, in an apparent attempt to shield the one beneath. 5. It lasted for just a few seconds. Then the voice faded. Then there was an explosion,” Anige said in Filipino. The sound of what seemed to be an explosion came from a Hyundai Starex van parked in the

family’s garage. Arson investigators believe the van was the source of the fire that enveloped the entire

house. Arson investigators are looking into the possibility of foul play since the cover of the gas tank of  the Starex van was opened and the steel cap missing. This was also the case with an Isuzu Trooper parked in the garage. 6. Investigators found that the gate’s padlock was not locked and hanging on an elevated grill after the fire. Members of the household could not have gone down the stairs to escape the flames since it was the ground floor that was first to burn. The windows on the second floor had steel grills. There was also no exit at the back of the house. There were three doors on the ground floor, but all these lead to the main gate. Of the two vehicles that were lined up along the garage, it was the Starex van – the source of  the flames – that was near the gate. DISPOSITION: 7. The fire personnel are continuing with the investigation to determine the arson angle. 8. Final investigation report will follow.

FO2 JASPER P. GERMEDIA BFP Officer-on-Case

SFO2 FORTUNATO ALDE BFP Chief, AIS