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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The president of the Philippines president says charges will be filed against all those responsible for last month's factory fire that killed 72 people.
President Benigno Aquino III is also blasting government agencies for failing to do their duties. He told a news conference that among those charged will be local officials and fire bureau personnel who ignored the rubber slipper factory's failure to meet safety requirements.
Aquino said he did not want a repeat of the tragedy. He has ordered the inspection of some 300,000 factories in metropolitan Manila.
The fire was one of the worst in the country after a 1996 disco blaze that killed 162 people. A fire at a budget hotel in 2001 killed 75.
Aquino said an investigation showed Kentex Manufacturing Corp. in a northern Manila suburb failed to install an automatic sprinkler system and a protected fire exit inside the facility.
%@AP Links
163-a-10-(Philippines President Benigno Aquino (beh-NEEN'-yoh ah-KEE'-noh), at news conference)-"answer for that"-Philippines President Benigno Aquino says government workers who allowed a rubber slipper factory to operate despite safety flaws will be held accountable for last month's fire, which killed 72 people. (1 Jun 2015)
<<CUT *163 (06/01/15)££ 00:10 "answer for that"
APPHOTO XAF110: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III gestures as he answers questions from reporters during a press conference at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, June 1, 2015. Aquino said charges will be filed against all those responsible for last month's rubber slipper factory fire that left 72 people dead, including local officials and fire bureau personnel who ignored the establishment's failure to meet safety requirements. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) (1 Jun 2015)
<<APPHOTO XAF110 (06/01/15)££
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