Fire believed caused by an electrical short circuit razed a three-story building housing a defunct garments factory in Pasig City Thursday morning.

Arson investigators said they are not discounting the possibility of foul play, even as striking former employees who had "camped" in the building denied involvement in the fire.

Radio dzBB reported that the fire started at the former Saldaņa garments factory at the Montaņo Building along Brixton Street, Bgy. Kapitolyo in Pasig City.

Also damaged in the fire were an emission testing center and a photo studio in the building.

Eden Lalisan, one of the former garment firm employees, said they had been staying at the building since 2002, when it closed without paying them their back wages.

"Noong 2002 di na kami sinasahuran, inaalisan kami ng gawa. May decision ang NLRC, nanalo kami. Ayaw magbayad si Jojo Montaņo (We've been staying here since 2002, when the National Labor Relations Commission favored us. But Jojo Montaņo, the owner of the firm, still won't pay us. That's why we're still here)," she said.

She said they already told the building owner several times that the electrical wires there were too thin and could spark a fire if a short circuit occurs.

Lalisan said many of the 130 workers of the defunct firm who had worked between 10 to 18 years had stayed in the building. But she belied accusations that they started the fire.

"Kung may sunog kami unang tumatawag ng bumbero (When a fire breaks out in the building, we'd be the first to call the firemen)," she said.

Initial investigation showed the fire started past 7 a.m. and was placed under control past 9 a.m.