Fire alarms went off and sirens blared late in the afternoon of January 16, 2007 when fire struck the Supreme Court New Building along Padre Faura. Apparently caused by faulty electrical wiring, the fire was confined to the New Session Hall at the building’s second floor, where the Court holds its oral arguments and retirement ceremonies. The New Session Hall had been renovated in 2002.
 Quick-responding firefighters put out the small blaze even as all employees in the building were directed to evacuate the building. Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, who was holding a meeting with officials of the Office of the Court Administrator at the adjoining En Banc Conference Room when the fire broke out, immediately ordered the inspection of all electrical wiring in the building to prevent a similar occurrence.
Because of the fire, the oral arguments in GR No. 163583 (British American Tobacco v. Jose Isidro Camacho) and GR Nos. 162335 and 162605 (Severino M. Manotok IV, et al. v. Heirs of Homer L. Barque), scheduled on January 23 and 30, 2007, respectively, were postponed until further notice.      

Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, Chief Justice’s Staff Head and Acting Chief of the Public Information Office, in his meeting with the press the day after the fire said that insurance adjusters from the Government Service Insurance System are already assessing the cost of the damage. He is hoping that the restoration will be completed in time for the retirement ceremonies of Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr. in April.




Photos by Jed M. Eva III, Tito P. Royeras, and Kiko S. Gutierrez