ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has vowed to take drastic action against enterprising residents illegally selling petroleum products in this city.
Supt. Jhufel Brañanola, Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) chief, issued warning on Wednesday as the conflagration that razed 400 houses in Barangay Labuan, this city, originated from a house whose owner was said to be illegally selling petroleum products.
The fire, which broke out around 1:05 p.m. Sunday, reached fourth alarm and destroyed some PHP4 million worth of properties.
Brañanola said the owner of the house, Marko Tarhata, was engaged in selling gasoline to small motorboat operators in the area.
“I warned those who are involved in the illegal selling of petroleum products to stop this kind of activity before we will take drastic actions against them,” Brañanola said.
He noted that the selling of gasoline in bottles by the roadsides has become commonplace, violating the Fire Code of the Philippines. He said the law carries a fine of PHP12,500 for first offense, and six months and one day to six years imprisonment.
The sale of petroleum products in places aside from gasoline stations is prohibited as it is flammable, the fire official said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has directed the police to closely coordinate with the BFP and ensure strict implementation of the Fire Code, as well as to confiscate gasoline being sold illegally. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)
