10, 2018, charges were filed against eight BFP personnel from the Davao City Fire District for issuing a fire safety inspection certificate for the NCCC mall despite it failing to meet certain requirements of the Philippine fire code. On December 19, 2018, almost a year later after the incident, charges against NCCC management and SSI were dropped; the IAATF has found insufficient evidence to file charges against any executives of the AC Rockport Construction and Development that handled the renovation of the mall's third floor. The task force has found that there was no malpractice in the installation of electrical wirings during the renovation at the third floor, which probably hasn't caused an electrical fire. Moreover, there was absence of appropriate license of some workers performing electrical works; and absence of building permit during renovation. The charges against the said executives were withdrawn after families of the victims filed "affidavits of desistance," which was received later that year. Reactions Domestic On the evening of December 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte paid an unannounced visit to the families of the victims trapped inside the mall. He consoled them upon the announcement that the victims may have a "zero chance of survival." Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured the families that the government would extend assistance. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III offered his condolences to the victims. Pimentel urged the BFP to thoroughly investigate the incident. Several labor unions criticized the government, particularly the DOLE, for their negligence in maintaining safe workplaces. The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) called on the DOLE, as well as the BFP and local government officials, to explain the fire. The FFW offered to send their safety officers to investigate the incident. BIEN labeled the incident as a "massacre of working people who strive hard to earn a living." BIEN claimed that safety drills are not conducted in BPO companies due to the unwanted suspension of operations. The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSD) demanded the immediate release of investigation results. The IOHSD also advocated for the creation of new laws that would penalize companies that violate occupational safety and health standards, which BIEN expressed support for. The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) believed that a "routine and objective" inspection of the mall by the DOLE could have reduced the impact of such fire to property. The ALU-TUCP also criticized the management