Agencies
Valenzuela City
Emotions ran high yesterday when a daughter of one of the owners of Kentex Manufacturing Corp. met with the relatives of the victims of the fire in Valenzuela City that killed 72 people on May 13.
At the dialogue held at the covered court of Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela, many of the families asked for justice, financial assistance and the swift release of their loved ones’ remains, GMA News reported.
As the dialogue went on, Barbara Ang, daughter of one of the owners, broke down and started crying as well.
She also got down on the floor and hugged Cyril Pontellas while asking for forgiveness.
Pontellas’ husband died in the tragic fire and he is survived by his wife and two children. She said she is worried because her husband, like many of the workers lost in the fire, was the sole provider of the family.
Ang stressed that her family is also suffering. Johny Ang, 52, is included in the list of those reported missing. She also said that they are doing everything they can to provide the families with assistance. Ang added the family has come out in the open despite receiving threats to prove that they will not and are not running from their responsibility. She clarified, however, that this is not an admission of guilt in the fire, which the government agencies and the House of Representatives are already investigating.
The Labour department has said that Kentex violated the Labour Code by hiring workers through an unregistered manpower agency. An investigation is also ongoing into alleged violations of the Fire Code, including a lack of fire exits.
After the dialogue, the families were given flowers, groceries, and P6,000 in cash.
Barbara Ang (left), a daughter of one of the owners of Kentex, the footwear factory gutted by fire that killed 72 people, talks to the relatives of th
