Some sensitive documents were damaged in the fire that struck the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR) in Baguio City, according to Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
Investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the blaze affected a large vault inside the DPWH-CAR office, which reportedly contained sensitive documents.
The vault is fireproof, and its contents, duplicate copies of DPWH records already submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA), were largely protected.
However, Magalong said some sensitive documents outside the vault were burned. He added that authorities are waiting for the results of the investigation and the official statement from DPWH to determine the full extent of the damage.
“Siguro it would take about five days. Siguro by Monday, magkakaroon na talaga ng linaw kung ano talagang nangyari,” Magalong said.
DPWH earlier said it is coordinating with the BFP and the Baguio City local government unit amid the investigation of Wednesday’s fire.
Magalong said the DPWH-CAR regional office remains heavily secured following instructions from DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, with strict access restrictions in place.
No one, including DPWH Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations for Luzon Rommel Tello, is allowed to enter the site while the investigation is ongoing.
“Nagbigay siya ng instruction na ituloy-tuloy lang ang pag-secure sa site at walang papasukin. So 24/7, ipinagbabawal namin anybody, pati mga DPWH personnel na pumasok doon sa site na ‘yon while ongoing ang ating scene of the crime investigation,” Magalong said.
Based on initial findings, the mayor said the fire originated from the building’s stock room. Some witnesses reported seeing sparks from an electric post near the building, followed by fluctuations in electrical current and the smell of something burning.
The BFP central office will lead the investigation, while an initial probe by the BFP-Baguio City office indicated that the fire affected the storage room for financial management records.
Personnel have already retrieved samples and evidence from the scene for laboratory testing to determine the cause of the fire.
“Nagkuha tayo ng samples and evidence for lab testing na ipapadala po nila ngayon sa national headquarters for verification,” said SFO1 Lloyd Furigay, public information officer of the BFP-Baguio City office.
