Fire hit the office of Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo in Malacañang yesterday, destroying several documents related to her work as spokeswoman and presidential adviser for Region 3 (Central Luzon).

An explosion reportedly preceded the blaze in Fajardo’s office on the fourth floor of the Tahanan ng Masa building yesterday noon. Firefighters rushed to the scene and sounded the first alarm at 12:44 p.m., and the fire was declared under control by 1 p.m.

Fajardo said the fire may have started from the power outlet near a photocopy machine.

Firemen, however, are still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire and have not ruled out arson. Fajardo said some documents concerning her work as deputy presidential spokeswoman and presidential adviser for Central Luzon were destroyed in the fire.

"Nagsimula yung fire sa saksakan ng photocopier, according to my staff. May sumabog at umapoy and they went out for help. They were advised na patayin ang electricity agad para hindi kumalat yung apoy. Nag-umpisa sa office namin, sumabog yung photocopy machine, at mukhang faulty wiring," Fajardo said.

Fajardo said some documents may have been destroyed in the fire, mostly memorandums and correspondence with other sections attached to the Office of the President.

She said the destroyed documents coming from her office will be reconstructed from the stored files in the hard drives of their computers.