(Eagle News) — Malacanang has released a list of missing persons who are feared to have perished in the Davao City mall fire Saturday, December 23.
“Our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the 37 missing persons of the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) fire in Davao City (on Saturday, December 23),” a Palace statement said.
The list of missing persons below was released “as per the City Government of Davao” and “as reported by their relatives” include the following:
1. Jessica Solis
2. Gantioco Celestial Jr
3. Ian Kiem Adlawan
4. Regine Generales
5. Christen Joy Garzon
6. Apple Jane Celades
7. Iana Apalacio
8. Jonas Basalan
9. Jim Benedict Quimsing
10. Kurtchin Angela Bangoy
11. Mary Joy Daluro
12. Randy Balcao
13. Rosyl Montanez
14. Missy Rose Artiaga
15. Analiza Penarejo
16. Christine Joy Ferraren
17. Ivan Roble
18. Christine Alviola
19. Alexandra Moreno Castillo
20. Hongijangjian- family not interviewed
21. Desiree Gayle Zacarias
22. Jesseca Samontina
23. Mary Louielyn Bongcayao
24. Nancy Loyd Abad
25. Jeffrey Sismar
26. Johani Matundo
27. Joyne Pabelonia
28. Elyn Joy Yorsua
29. Shiela Mae Bacaling
30. Lister Jade Entera
31. Charlyn Liwaya
32. Mikko Demafeliz
33. Roderick Antipuesto
34. Rhenzi Nova Muyco
35. Roderick Constantinopla
36. Venus Joy Kimpo
37. Janine Joy Obo
The President went unannounced Saturday night to the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) mall and assured the relatives of the victims that the government would extend help.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is currently determining the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
“Let us include them in our prayers in this moment of grief,” a Palace statement said.
At least 37 people, including call center staff from an American firm, the Survey Sampling International (SSI)are believed to have perished in a fire that tore through a shopping mall in the southern Philippine city of Davao, local authorities said Sunday.
President Rodrigo Duterte, himself a Davao native, visited distraught relatives outside the burning building overnight but told them there was “zero” chance their loved ones had survived, witnesses told AFP.
Firemen found one body as the blaze was finally extinguished Sunday, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte — the president’s daughter — told reporters.
Firemen have concluded that all those trapped in the building are dead, she said, adding: “They assessed that no one would survive in that heat and with that thick, black smoke.”
The building’s top floor housed a 24-hour call center for the US-based market research company SSI.
Jimmy Quimsing, a retired seaman, was one of the relatives desperately waiting for news.
His 25-year-old son Jim Benedict worked at the call center and had not been in contact since the fire broke out.
Quimsing said he spoke to President Duterte and had been told to prepare for the worst.
“He told us … no one would survive under these circumstances,” he told AFP.
Duterte’s special assistant Christopher Go confirmed the bulk of the president’s comments to AFP.
Paolo Duterte, the president’s son and the vice mayor of Davao, also wrote on Facebook that fire officials had told him there was “zero” chance of anyone trapped surviving the blaze.
(with a report from Agence France-Presse)
