MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday ordered the Departments of Interior and Local Government and Justice to get to the bottom of the Tuguegarao hotel blaze that claimed the lives of 16 people.

In an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Aquino said he issued his directives to Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with explicit instructions to expedite the probe and bring to justice those found guilty for the tragedy.

“Bottomline, may mga hindi gumawa ng dapat nilang gawin (there are those who did not perform their duties) that would have prevented this tragedy so kahapon pa lang, inutusan na natin na mag-imbestiga ang Secretary ng Interior and Local Government (I have directed the Secretary of Interior and Local Government to investigate the tragedy),” the President said.

“Pinakiusap ko na mag-coordinate ang DILG at ang Department of Justice at pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon, yung mga nagkulang ay dapat panagutin sa lalong madaling panahon (I asked that the DILG coordinate their investigative efforts with the Department of Justice and to bring those responsible for this tragedy to justice),” he said.