In a “24 Oras” report on Monday, San Juan’s attorney Raymund Fortun said that although Ayala Land has paid for San Juan’s hospitalization and burial, it has not yet coordinated with the family to settle damages.
“A civil suit for damages, actual, moral and exemplary damages has to be imposed. We’re always open to any form of settlement of these cases,” Fortun said.
“Kailangan lang namin maging reasonable sila at maging sincere ang kanilang desire to try to alleviate ‘yung suffering of parties involved,” he added.
He said the family deserves compensation for any financial loss they could face following the death of San Juan, who succumbed to burns all over his body.
“Mayroon pang ilang taon na ‘yung tao ay magiging productive, na kikita pa o mapapakinabangan ng kanyang pamilya. Dahil dito sa hindi inaasahang pagkamatay, nawalan ang pamilya ng ganito,” Fortun said.
“Certainly some form of compensation would be justified,” he added.
Suzette Naval, Ayala Land’s corporation communications manager, told GMA News Online: “We’ve not had any information about the intention [of the family about compensation].”
She said that Ayala LAnd has yet to issue a statement about the family’s plea.
Meanwhile, Interior secretary Mar Roxas has assured the public that his department will be transparent in their investigation of the blast, which was discovered to have been caused by an LPG leak.
“Lahat ng ginagawa natin dito sa imbestigasyon ay hayag na transparent. Lahat ng impormasyon at ibinabahagi sa publiko,” he said, denying allegations of a cover-up.
Roxas said the department will come up with the final report after two weeks.
The Serendra blast killed three other people, who were riding in a delivery van that was crushed by part of the apartment’s wall when the blast occurred.
Ayala Land president and CEO Antonino T. Aquino has already vowed that the company will “provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the completion of [the] investigation.” — BM, GMA News
