Ozone Disco fire

Ozone Disco was located by the 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda along Timog Avenue. Prior to opening in 1991, the site housed a jazz club called Birdland, owned by Sergio Orgaoow from 1978 until 1990. Orgaoow later sold the building and lot to Hermilo Ocampo, owner and president of Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc. The Ocampos then converted the site to a discothèque, capitalizing on the popularity of electronic music in the Philippines; they refurbished the building and added mezzanines. Ozone Disco officially opened in 1991, and became a popular spot in Quezon City for students and young professionals in the mid-1990s. ==Incident==

The fire broke out just before midnight on Monday, March 18, 1996. At the time of the incident, there were an estimated 350 patrons and 40 club employees inside Ozone Disco, despite the venue having a capacity of only 35 people. The majority of the club guests were high school and college students celebrating graduations or the end of the school year. Survivors reported seeing sparks flying inside the disc jockey's booth shortly before midnight, followed by smoke which they thought was a stage effect. The DJ, another survivor, recalled the microphone died as he was about to warn everyone about the fire. Many of the bodies were discovered piled waist-high along the corridor leading to the only exit. to 162 people, the latter cited by the trial court that heard the ensuing criminal case. At least 95 people were also injured. The high death toll was one of the worst ever for a nightclub fire, though it was subsequently surpassed by the República Cromanñón nightclub fire. ==Investigation and aftermath==

Six people involved with Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc. were tried for criminal charges of "reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious injuries". In November 2001, twelve officials of the Quezon City government were charged before the Sandiganbayan (the country's anti-graft court) for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple serious injuries. They were accused of allowing Ozone Disco to secure a certificate of annual inspection in 1995 "despite the inadequacy, insufficiency and impropriety of the documents submitted by the owners". On November 20, 2014, seven officials of the Quezon City government were found guilty by the Sandiganbayan of violating Republic Act No. 3019, known as the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”. They were held liable for negligence in connection with the approval of the building permit and issuance of certificates of occupancy to Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc., whose owners were also found liable. The Sandiganbayan later affirmed its decision in April 2015. == Former site and developments ==

For some few years after the incident, there was a makeshift memorial on the site featuring photographs of the victims. This has since been dismantled, with no marker or official memorial remaining. The structure which housed Ozone Disco stood along Timog Avenue in Quezon City, and was not commercially used for over 20 years. In March 2015, a week before the 19th anniversary of the tragedy, Ozone Disco's building was finally demolished. Relatives of the victims still visit the site. As of October 2016, the former site of Ozone Disco is occupied by a branch of the rice porridge chain GoodAh!!!, co-owned by television host Boy Abunda. ==In media==

• This incident was featured on two ABS-CBN shows: • The Philippine reality crime and investigative documentary show Calvento Files, revisited the case in an episode, titled "Mga Biktima ng Ozone", aired March 29, 1996. • The horror docudrama series Nginiig aired an episode on the incident during its Jericho Rosales era in late-2004. • The tragedy was featured thrice on GMA Network shows: • Lihim ng Gabi featured the incident in a 1996 episode. • Public affairs investigative journalism program Brigada Siete discussed the fire a few days after. • The October 2, 2008 episode of the public affairs docudrama program Case Unclosed featured the fire and its aftermath as the pilot episode, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. Two days before the premiere of Case Unclosed, on September 29, 2008, then-Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., father of incumbent Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte, released an ordinance that requires the owners of entertainment establishments to use swing-in/swing-out doors. ==See also==