Ibinato ng dalawang may-ari ng Ozone Disco ang sisi sa mga dating opisyal ng Quezon City Hall sa pagbigay ng permit sa kanilang establisimiyento kung saan 162 katao ang namatay sa malagim na sunog na naganap noong Marso 1996.

Matapos sintensiyahan ng anim hanggang 10 taong pagkakakulong ng Sandiganbayan Fifth Division sa kasong graft kaugnay sa trahedya, nagsumite ng motion for reconsideration sina Hermilo Ocampo at Ramon Ng, stockholder at director ng Westwood Entertainment Company na nangangasiwa sa Ozone Disco, upang baligtarin ang inilabas na desisyon ng kaso.

“If the public officials of the Office of the Building Official of Quezon City were diligent in implementing the provisions of the National Building Code, no permit or certification should have been issued to the said establishment, the owner-corporation would have rectified the problem, and there would have been no fire or casualties,” pahayag ng abogado ni Ocampo sa kanyang motion for reconsideration.

Kasamang sinintensiyahan ng Fifth Division noong Nobyembre 20 nina Ocampo at Ng ay pitong dating opisyal ng QC Hall dahil sa pagbibigay ng permit at certificate of occupancy sa Ozone Disco bagamat hindi ito nainspeksiyon ng City Engineer’s Office.

“What is clear in the assailed decision is the fact of the public officials’ alleged negligence in the discharge of their functions. Westwood’s only participation, if any, is only applying for the Building Permits and the Certificate of Occupancy which application is mandated by law and regulations,” ayon naman sa kampo ni Ng.