Security personnel and park attendants were invited for questioning Tuesday to shed light on the fire incident at the parking lot of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday afternoon that caused damage to at least 19 vehicles parked in the area.
This developed as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) stepped into the case and is now in close coordination with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
“The BFP is investigating. We only support whatever assistance they need to complete and speed up the investigation,” said MIAA Media Affairs Division chief Connie Bungag.
MIAA general manager Eric Jose Ines said “statements from the parking lot attendant and airport security directing traffic in the terminal vicinity, as well as those assigned to adjacent parking lots will be taken to shed light on what happened.”
“We are relieved to know that no one was hurt or injured in the incident. I have directed all pertinent MIAA units to give their full support to the BFP for the speedy completion of their investigation,” he added.
Ines said MIAA’s Rescue and Firefighting Division (RFD) received a call at 1:28 p.m. reporting about an ongoing fire outside the immediate perimeter of the terminal. Five fire trucks were immediately dispatched to the scene. A medical team also responded to the incident.
Initial unofficial reports stated that the incident began as a small grass fire that spread quickly because of the strong wind, resulting in the burning of the 19 cars parked in the area.
Ines said the fire was declared fire out at 1:57 p.m.
MIAA officials said the affected cars are primarily owned by airport employees, but they clarified that the airport management is not liable for the damages.
Meanwhile, Philippine Skylanders International (PSI), the private concessionaire in charge of the parking lot, assured the airport management it would shoulder all damages incurred by the owners of the vehicles involved.
“The BFP is currently investigating the cause of the fire. PSI intends to fully cooperate with it and extend all assistance to the BFP in the conduct of the investigation,” said lawyer Gerard Martin Camiña, PSI director for legal affairs, in a letter sent to Ines.
“Solely in the spirit of humanitarian consideration and good faith, PSI shall shoulder all damages incurred by the owners of the vehicles involved. This, however, shall not serve as an admission of fault or negligence on the part of PSI,” Camiña added.
The PSI said it will reach out to the owners of the vehicles immediately to discuss the details of its assistance.