OZONE
DISCO
FIRE
The Ozone Disco fire, a horrific tragedy that
occurred in Quezon City, Philippines on March 18,
1996, claimed the lives of at least 160 people. The
overcrowded disco, meant for only 35 patrons,
contained over 350 individuals celebrating school
graduations. A spark ignited near the DJ booth,
quickly engulfing the establishment in flames.
Tragically, a single, inward-swinging exit was
blocked by a nearby building, and security guards
mistakenly locked the door during the chaos. This
disregard for fire safety regulations and
overcrowding resulted in one of the worst
nightclub fires in history, leaving a lasting scar on
the Filipino community.
Private
respondents
Hermilo
Ocampo and Ramon Ng, members of
the board of directors and
stockholders
of
Westwood
Entertainment
Co.
Inc.
which
managed the Ozone disco, were also
found guilty of similar charges. In a
decision penned by Associate
Justice
Ma.
Theresa
Dolores
Gomez-Estoesta, the court said that
the officials had been remiss in
approving the building permit of the
disco bar.
Despite having faults in the design and
defects in the electrical and safety
systems, the authorities still issued two
building permits and a certificate of
occupancy to the disco
Quezon City Administrator Aldrin Cuña
said Macapugay, Sagana, and Itliong had
already retired, Mamaid was on medical
leave, Rivera was in the private sector, and
Reyes had transferred to the Manila City
Hall.
CANON 1: Engineers shall hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of the public and shall strive to
comply with the principles of sustainable development in
the performance of their professional duties.
The civil engineers involved seemingly failed to
prioritize public safety by:
Not ensuring proper fire exits and installing
a single inward-swinging exit door.
Not installing functional fire extinguishers.
Constructing the building next door such
that it blocked the emergency exit.
CANON 2: Engineers shall perform services
only in areas of their competence
he engineers involved were qualified for the specific task or not. However, it
raises concerns about their competence considering the apparent lack of proper
fire safety measures implemented in the building's design and construction.
Civil engineers approved two building permits and a certificate of occupancy
despite having faults in the design and defects in the electrical and safety
system without considering also the other field/authorities in having inspection
such as the Bureau of Fire or licensed electricians.
CANON 3: Engineers shall issue public
statements only in an objective and truthful
manner
The overall details of constructing this building were also
hidden from the public by the engineers involved although
the engineers knew about the faults in the design and its
effects on electrical and fire systems they were still
authorized to run this building and give building permits.
CANON 3: Engineers shall act in such a manner as
to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the engineering profession
The engineers involved likely acted unethically and irresponsibly
by disregarding essential safety measures, potentially tarnishing
the reputation of the civil engineering profession.
The engineers that are involved in this case show the possible act
of engaging in business or professional practices of fraudulent,
dishonest, bribery, and corruption.
TAKE NOTE
It's important to remember that this analysis is based solely on the
provided information and doesn't necessarily determine the guilt or
innocence of any individual involved. A proper investigation and legal
proceedings are crucial to establish the complete picture and
determine any potential violations of the code of ethics.
Thank You