It seems there is a need to investigate the faulty elevator of the new City Hall building after several passengers were trapped inside it Thursday last week.

In addition, the personnel of Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structure (ASIS) were told to observe protocol in responding to any crisis inside the building.

Building Administrator Victor Facultad said that upon knowing that an elevator malfunctioned, several personnel of the Task Force Asis whose office is located at the fifth floor of the seven-storey building, went to the scene and destroyed the door of the elevator to free those who were inside. The said elevator caters to floors 3, 6 and 9.

Facultad said without his knowledge, the task force used tools in realigning the lower part of the elevator that served as an exit of the passengers one after the other.

He said the task force's alertness was good but they did not observe proper protocol in responding to a scene. Facultad said there were assigned elevator boys who already knew what to do in case the elevator malfunctions or if the power is out.

"Our elevator boys are well-trained. There's an intercom inside the elevator that connects directly to the maintenance department. Once there is a problem inside, the elevator boy will inform the maintenance personnel so they could respond," he said.

Facultad added there is a lock on the upper portion of the elevator and the maintenance department already knows how to open it. In case of trouble, the building administrator also said that the elevator will just slowly go down to the nearest floor next to the level where it stopped.

"It will not just go down through in through, contrary to what people think. The elevator was already programmed for safety," he said.

Facultad said since the elevator was realigned, the maintenance department took time to fix the elevator back to its normal function. It was fixed Friday morning but was not available for use for reason of security.

Facultad admitted there are some cases that the same elevator malfunctions for unknown reasons but it just goes back to its normal service a few minutes after. He added that the other elevators do not have that problem.

He added that the contractor was asked to either change the unit to a new one or repair it before the building is turned over to the City Government on June.

INVESTIGATION

Engr. Robert Dumanil, head of Task Force Asis will conduct an investigation among his personnel. Dumanil was on vacation leave when the incident happened.

Dumanil said he could not give his comment on the incident because he has to investigate it first when he returns to his office today.*