SWORN STATEMENT OF MELISSA FERRER Y DE VERA GIVEN TO SFOI ARMANDO G RAMOS BFP OFFICER

ON CASE IN THE PRESENCE OF SFO1 RAUL P FERNANDEZ AT THE DAGUPAN CITY FIRE STATION,
DAGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN. TAKEN IN PANGASENENSE DIALECT AND DEDUCED TO ENGLISH
LANGUAGE BY THE SAME INVESTIGATOR THIS 20TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2011.
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Preliminary : Ms declarant, I would like to inform you that you are now under
investigation regarding the fire incident that transpired at PNR Site, M.H. del Pilar St.,
Dagupan City on or about 0200H 20 December 19, 2011. Further, I would like to inform
you that under our new constitution, you have the right to be observed, you have the
right to remain silent and that anything you will say in this investigation will be used as
evidence against you in any criminal proceedings, you also have the right to have a
counsel of your own choice, Now, do you understand and still willing to proceed with?
Answer: yes sir:
Q1. Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the whole truth in this investigation?
Ans. Yes, sir.
Q2. If so, please state your name, age and other personal circumstances?
Ans. I am Melissa Ferrer y de Vera, 25 years of age, single, resident of Perez Mkt. Dagupan City, finished
3rd year high school and jobless at present.
Q3: On the early morning of December 20, 2011, did you recall of any unusual incident?
Ans. The house owned by my former employer was burned sir.
Q4. Where were you when the incident you are referring took place?
Ans. I was at the fire place sir because I was the one who asleep on the burned residence prior sir.
Q5. How did you came to know about the incident when you said that you were asleep?
Ans. I was awakened by extreme heat sir.
Q6. What did you do next when you were awakened?
Ans.I was astound and went on panic and immediately descended to the house and proceeded to inform
my former employer who was at the canteen adjacent to the fire scene about the incident sir.
Q7. So, are you aware of any event that happened prior to the fire incident and prior to the time you
proceeded to bed?
Ans. I was accompanied by one of the employee of my former manager upstair sir and before I went to
bed she lighted a candle and placed it on the top of a dura box considering that it was so dark on that
time and the power was already been disconnected on that place as far as I know.
Q8. Who was the one you are referring, will you able to identify?
Ans. It was Evangeline Diaz sir.
Q9. How about your former manager/employee you are referring?
Ans. She was Frennie Lopez sir.
Q10. What did Evangeline Diaz did upon lighted the candle?
Ans. She immediately proceeded downstair sir and went to the canteen.
Q11. Thereafter, what did you do next?
Ans. I immediately sleep sir because I was so exhausted.
Q12. On that time you were alone were you not able to noticed of anybody who went upstair aside from
Evangeline?
Ans. No, I did not noticed of anybody sir.
Q13. What prompted you to be there asleep despite you have your home?
Ans. I had just took a visit to my former employer sir at around 12:00 o’clock in the evening prior to the
incident and I usually sleep there when I visited her sir.
Q14. Upon noticed about the incident, have you not did of anything that might probably suppressed the
fire?
Ans.I tried to suppressed the fire sir by means of a pail of water downstair, however, fire had grown to
big enough and my effort was failed.
Q15. How about your former employer, what did she do upon notified about the incident if you know?
Ans. She cried and proceeded immediately to the fire scene sir, however, the fire was already big
enough at the second floor.
Q16. Were there any firefighters who responded to the fire?
Ans. Yes sir, it was the firefighters from the Dagupan City Fire Station and the Panda Volunteer Fire
Brigade Sir.
Q17. Do you have any idea what caused the fire was?
Ans. As far as I know it was caused by the lighted candle that was placed on top of the dura box sir.
Q18. Where was that dura box you were referring located?
Ans. It was located at the second floor at the middle section sir.

Q19. Did you noticed of any unusual odor prior to the incident?
Ans. No sir, I did not noticed of anything unusual.
Q20. Are you aware of any grudges in between your former employer and anybody within their
neighbors?
Ans. No, I am not aware sir.
Q21. If so, I have no more to ask you, do you still have something to add or retract from your statement?
Ans. No more sir.
Q22. Are you willing to sign your statement freely and voluntarily without any mental reservation?
Ans. Yes sir.
END OF THE STATEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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Signed this 20th day of December 2011, at the City of Dagupan, Province of Pangasinan,
Philippines.

Melissa V . Ferrer
Declarant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 20 th day of December 2011, at the City of Dagupan,
Province of Pangasinan, Philippines.

CINSP ERNESTO F GANDIA BFP

City Fire Marshal ____
 Administering Officer

Republic of the Philippines )

City of Dagupan ) S.S.
Province of Pangasinan )

AFFIDAVIT

I, Evangeline Diaz y Fabia, 16 years of age, single, a resident of Lucao Dist., Dagupan City,
employed as saleslady at Frennie’s canteen with postal addressed at PNR Site, M. H. del Pilar St.,
Dagupan City, after having been sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and say;

1. That on or about 12:00 midnight of 19 December 2011, I was at the canteen where I was
presently employed and working and all of a sudden, one identified herself as Melissa Ferrer
a close friend and a former employee of my manager arrived.
 2. That on that time, while I knew that my manager, Frennie Lopez was out and went to
market, I volunteered to accompany Melissa Ferrer at the house of my manager which was
located nearby, adjacent to the canteen.
3. Thereafter, Melissa alleged that she felt asleep due to she was so exhausted, I accompanied
her upstair and simultaneously, I got a candle on my hand because I knew that electrical
power was already been disconnected long before at the house of my employer.
4. That upon Melissa laid down to bed, I lighted the candle and placed it on the top of the dura
box within the room for her light considering that it was dark and thereafter, I went
downstair and proceeded to my work.
5. That I was not aware of the consequences that resulted for the burning of the house of my
manager, despite to assist the visitor whom my manager personally knew.
6. That the house of my manager that was gutted by fire on or about 2:00 o’clock in the
morning of 20 December 2011 was made of light construction materials on its second floor
area and with concrete walling at the ground floor and nothing was saved.
7. That I executed this affidavit to affirmed the truthfulness of the foregoing statements.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I affix my signature this 20th day of December 2011, at the City of
Dagupan, Province of Pangasinan, Philippines.

Evangeline F. Diaz
Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 20 th day of December 2011, at the City of Dagupan,
Province of Pangasinan, Philippines.

CINSP ERNESTO F GANDIA BFP

City Fire Marshal______
Administering Officer
 Restricted

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION
Office of the City Fire Marshal
INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION UNIT
Dagupan City Fire Station
Pangasinan
-o0o-

MEMORANDUM

FOR : THE CITY FIRE MARSHAL

Dagupan City Fire Station

SUBJECT : Final Investigation Report

DATE : 30 January 2012

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FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT : Bureau of Fire Protection/ Intelligence & Investigation Unit
(F. I. R.) : Dagupan City Fire Stn., Pangasinan, R-1
Case # IIU-11-005
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1. PLACE OF FIRE : 02 TIME AND DATE OF THE ALARM
M. H. del Pilar St.,Mayombo Dist., : 0230 H 20 December 2011
Dagupan City
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ESTABLISMENT BURNED : 04. FIRE VICTIM/S
Lopez & Espiritu Residence : 1. Frenie Lopez y Ferrer
Two (2) units, two (2) storey semi- 2. Josephine Espiritu y Rodriguez
concrete residential
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. DAMAGED TO PROPERTY : 06. ORIGIN OF FIRE
P581,000.00 more or less : 2 nd floor, middle section in the house of Frenie
Lopez
_____________________________________________________________________________________
7. CAUSED OF FIRE
Unattended lighted candle
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTS
A. Joint Affidavit of Firefighters
B. Sworn Statement of Melissa Ferrer y de Vera
C. Affidavit executed by Evangeline Diaz y Fabia
D. Sworn Statement of Frenie Lopez y Ferrer
 E. Sworn Statement of Clarissa Espiritu y Rodriguez
F. Affidavit of Loss duly executed by Josephine Espiritu
G. Affidavit of Loss duly executed by Frenie Lopez
H. Spot Investigation Report
I. Progress Investigation Report
J. Photographs taken at the fire scene
K. Sketch of the fire scene
_____________________________________________________________________________________
9. FACTS OF THE CASE
That on or about 0230H of December 20, 2011, fire incident had transpired at M. H. del
Pilar St., Mayombo Dist., Dagupan City wherein a two (2) units of two- storey residential, made
of semi-concrete construction materials were partially gutted by fire. Personal belongings and
properties of the fire victims incurred severe burned damaged as a result of the incident. Fire
was officially declared “Fire Out” by the Fire Ground Commander at exactly 0250H of same date.

On the investigation conducted, lead by the City Fire Marshal, CINSP ERNESTO F GANDIA
on the early morning of December 20, 2011, during the fire scene processing, the Officer on-

= page 1 of 3 pages =
case had traced the fire origin at the 2 nd floor, middle section, in the house of one Frenie
Lopez y Ferrer, substantiated by fire patterns particularly the intensity of burning and char
direction.

Base on the executed joint affidavit of firefighters who responded to the said incident,
stated under oath that they have noticed that fire intensity concentrated at the second floor in
the house of one identified as Frenie Lopez before it begun to spread at the adjoining residential
structure until it was finally extinguished. Further, averred that nothing unusual was observed
and noticed during and after the firefighting operation. ( Joint Affidavit of Firefighters dtd 20
December 2011, hereto attached, marked as Annex “A”)

That on the Sworn Affidavit executed by one Melissa Ferrer y de Vera, stated under
oath that she was the one who had been used to slept at the house of Frenie Lopez on that
particular time prior to the incident while the latter was out for her business. Claimed that she
was accompanied upstairs by one of the employee of the fire victim identified as Evangeline
Diaz y Fabia, considering that she was so exhausted and felt sleepy on that particular time, at
around 12:00 midnight prior to the incident. Alleged by the declarant that Diaz had brought a
candle upstair and lighted it up considering that power was disconnected long before and the
room was dark and place it on top of a dura box before she hurriedly proceed back for her work.
Thereafter, the declarant alleged that she was just awakened by a extreme heat alighted the
combustibles therein that made her to rushed downstair and tried to extinguished the fire
through pails of water available at the ground floor, however claimed that her effort turned
futile due to that fire had grown big enough that prompted her to notify Frenie Lopez
immediately who was at canteen a few meters away from the fire scene. (Sworn Statement
executed by Melissa Ferrer y de Vera dtd 20 December 2011, hereto attached, marked as Annex
“B” )
Base on the executed Affidavit of Evangeline Diaz y Fabia, stated under oath that she
was the one who volunteered to accompany Melissa Ferrer in the house of Frenie Lopez and
lighted a candle and place it on top of the dura box to light up the room where Melissa Ferrer
had lay for rest and that she was not aware of the probable effect of what she did but to assist
the latter. Further, the affiant claimed that she immediately proceeded back for work due to
that she was busy cooking for a menu at the canteen on that time she accompanied Ferrer and
had just left her work in a while. ( Affidavit executed by Evangeline Diaz y Fabia dtd 20
December 2011, hereto attached marked as Annex “C”)

That on the Sworn Statement of Frenie Lopez y Ferrer, stated under oath that she was at
her regular working place at the canteen a few meters away from her house when the fire
incident broke out and she was just notified by her former employee Melissa Ferrer that her
house was on fire where she immediately responded and had tried to extinguished the fire but
no avail due to that flame was allegedly big enough and spread through out the ordinary
combustibles inside. Alleged further that she got no idea what caused the fire that gutted her
house and damaged most of her personal belongings including important documents therein.
(Sworn Statement of Frenie Lopez y Ferrer dtd 22 December 2011, hereto attached, marked as
Annex “D”)

On the Sworn Statement executed by one Clarissa Espiritu y Rodriguez, stated under
oath that prior to the incident, she was at the front of their house along the main street of M.H.
del Pilar and all of a sudden, she had heared a loud shout that there was a fire that prompted
her to checked it out and thereon alleged that she saw a big flame at the upper storey in the
house of Frenie Lopez . Further, the declarant claimed that while she was at the immediate
vicinity of the fire scene, she was not able to notice of any untoward incident or unusual
occurrence within the premises prior to the incident, although their house was involved and
gutted by fire and most of their personal properties and belongings were severely damaged as a
result of the incident. ( Sworn Statement of Clarissa Espiritu y Rodriguez dtd 27 December 2011,
hereto attached, marked as Annex “E”)

The mother of the above declarant, Josephine Espiritu y Rodriguez executed an affidavit
of Loss, declaring under oath the estimated amount of damages in their residence including
personal belongings as a result of the fire incident amounted to Php 300,000.00. (Affidavit of
Loss executed by Josephine Espiritu y Rodriguez dtd 21 December 2011, hereto attached,
marked as Annex “F”)

= page 2 of 3 pages =
Likewise, Frenie Lopez y Ferrer had executed an affidavit of loss, stated under oath the
total amount of damages incurred on her property as a result of the fire incident was Php
280,000.00.
(Affidavit of Loss duly executed by Frenie Lopez y Ferrer dtd 26 January 2012, hereto attached,
marked as Annex “G”)

DISCUSSION:
Collating all the information gathered during the interview and through the result of a
careful evaluation to the fire scene during the fire scene processing, the officer on case did not
noticed of any indication of incendiaries within the point of fire origin, and that no any other
heat source that may possibly initiate burning aside from the alleged lighted candle that had
been left and placed on top of a dura box. Considering that one of the affiant, Evangeline Diaz y
Fabia lighted a candle intended for lighting up the dark place within the house of her
employer,Frenie Lopez y Ferrer, her acts was performed without deliberate intent but merely to
assist an individual whose in need to have a rest in the person of one Melissa Ferrer y de Vera
and that her execution of the act was hastened considering that she was a minor and still have
a work and obligation left behind, perhaps, her attention was disconcerted that prompted her
to placed the lighted candle in a portion without consideration to the possible outcome of her
overt act.

Further, the leniency of the fire victim, Frenie Lopez to let somebody to sleep in their
family house, considering that she was alone and busy with her business was a moral obligation
towards anybody, either relatives or not, however, it was happen that blazed was accidentally
broke out resulting to the burning of her residence, including a neighboring residence and the
destruction of personal belongings therein that made the latter distressful how to recover with
the tragic incident.

Moreover, during the confrontation in between the parties involved, although, both
have sustained property damaged, mutually stated that they were of nearest kin and that they
were both victimized by an onslaught of a hostile fire that nobody wanted it to happen.

FINDINGS:
Base on the foregoing facts and upon a careful evaluation and analysis of same, the
undersigned Officer on- case firmly believed that the cause of fire was ACCIDENTAL in nature
attributed by Unattended Lighted Candle.

Considering that the victims of fire incident were no longer interested, this unit
considered this case CLOSED, however, it can be re-opened anytime without prejudice when
new vital evidence and reliable witness/es arise and warrant the same.

RECOMMENDATION:

Respectfully recommend that the instant case be dispose of and serve as future
reference.

Signed this 30th day of January 2012, at the Dagupan City Fire Station, Pangasinan,
Region I.

Micahel P Datuin
FO2 BFP
Fire &
Arson Investigator
Noted by:

Armando G Ramos
SFO1 BFP
C, Opn/IAS/IIU/FSI