Metro: Ozone Disco owners not yet off the hook
Balita News
charges, Ozone Disco owners are not yet off the hook since they are
still facing criminal charges in connection with the March 18, 1996
disco fire which killed 162 person and injuring 93 persons.
Case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and
multiple serious physical injuries are now pending before the sala of
Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Ofelia Marquez of Branch 32.
Named respondents were stockholders/directors of Westwood
Entertainment Company, owners of Ozone Disco Hermilo and wife Racquel
Rosita Ku, Sunny Ku, Alfredo Chua and Ramong Ng.
According to Judge Marquez staff to date there is still
continuation of presentation of evidence of accused specifically Hermilo
and wife Racquel. Its next hearing is set on May 18, May 26, June 8 and
15.
Only last Monday, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Apolinario
Bruselas Jr. of Branch 93 dismissed the graft and corruption charges
against the owners, officials of Bureau of Fire Protection and City Hall
Personnel for insufficient of evidence.
" The court has no other option but to resolve the incident in
favor of the accused as the prosecution failed to satisfy the requisite
degree of evidence required in criminal actions at this stage of the
proceeding. Where the evidence laid out against the accused is
insufficient to sustain a conviction; the court's constitutional duty is
to spare the respondents from further trial and tribulation, Judge
Bruselas noted.
As this developed, Justice for Ozone Victims (JOV) spokesperson
Joseph Santos said they will push for the submittal of motion for
reconsideration contesting the dismissal of the graft and corruption
charges.
Also exonerated were Patricio Dumlao; former chief of QC Business
Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO); Orlando Ozoa, Mariano Gaborni;
Adoracion Alzona, Roberto de Dios and Cirilo Felipe, all public official
and employees of BPLO.
Also charged were Manuel Baduria, Reynaldo Simpao, Wenceslao Romero
and Enrique Lopez, officials and employees from QC's Bureau of Fire
Protection. (PNA) JE/SDT/lpf
PNA 04141435