SAN JOSE, Antique – From the rubble of the fire-hit Gaisano Grand Mall in Barangay 8, personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) station here managed to retrieve last week cash and jewelry with a combined value of P23,032,937.75.
Gaisano Grand Mall was gutted by fire on June 17.
The money and jewelry were “all turned over to their rightful owners,” according to the fire station here in a statement.
“The efforts of the firefighters of this station to protect and ensure that no unauthorized personnel could enter the fire scene paid off. During the retrieval operation, not a single thing was missing. This only proves that this bureau upholds integrity, values honesty and performs its sworn duties with pride and honor,” added San Jose fire station led by Senior Inspector Ulyses Paco.
The retrieval operation ran for four days – Tuesday to Friday last week – according to Fire Officer 3 Lee Altobar, arson investigator of the fire station.
The money and jewelry belonged to a pawnshop, pharmacy, food chain and jewelry store. The staff of these stores accompanied the firemen during the retrieval operation.
More retrieval operations would be conducted in cooperation with the other tenant stores in the mall.
“May ara pa tenants nagkadto sa amon kag nagapamangkot kon ano puede ang sudlon didto sa mall,” said Altobar.
The fire-hit Gaisano Grand Mall remains off limits to the public. The BFP has yet to conclude its investigation which started on June 29.
Tenants who wish to check their properties inside the mall must coordinate with the San Jose fire station.
Initial estimate of the damage reached P830,137,500./PN
