The Ozone Disco Club — which used to be located along Timog Avenue corner Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City — burned down in 1996. A total of 162 people were killed in the blaze, while more than 90 others survived the tragedy.
Investigators later said that the disco had become a “fire trap” due to several building code violations. As such, some officers of the Quezon City Engineers Office were accused of taking bribes in exchange for letting the said violations slide.
Now, after 18 years, the verdict is finally out.
“The Sandiganbayan 5th Division on Thursday, November 20, found former officers of the Quezon City Engineers Office guilty of graft over the 1996 Ozone Disco fire and sentenced them to six to 10 years’ imprisonment,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
The decision penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, found the following people guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act:
1. Alfredo Macapugay
2. Donato Rivera Jr.
3. Francisco Itliong
4. Feliciano Sagana
5. Petronillo De Llamas
6. Rolando Mamaid
7. Edgardo Reyes
The court noted: “The court also found Hermilo Ocampo, president of Westwood Entertainment which owns the disco, and Westwood treasurer Ramon Ng guilty of the same violation and sentenced both to six to 10-year imprisonment.”
Meanwhile, four other who were accused — Racquel Ocampo, Rosita Ky, Sunny Ku, and Alfredo Chua — were acquitted due to “lack of proof beyond reasonable doubt.”
Photo: Video screengrab
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