Alleged addict burns house down

An alleged drug dependent burned down the house rented by his family yesterday in Villa Verna Subdivision, barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, after his sister refused to lend him money.

SFO1 Eulogio Abellar, the fire investigator of the Talisay Fire Station, said before the fire Wilfredo Bacolod asked to borrow money from her 19-year-old sister Daisy Mae, but she refused to lend him any.

Both siblings then quarreled and when Wilfredo turned violent Daisy left the house and shouted for help from neighbors.

Her neighbor Ruben Gonzales went to the house and saw Wilfredo turn on the LPG tank, tie a blanket around it and set the blanket on fire. The tank later exploded and the fire burned the house down but did not spread because of the firewalls.

There was no one reported injured as Gonzales helped Daisy and her two nieces evacuate. Wilfredo also escaped the flames but was collared by policemen, he is now detained and his awaiting arson charges against him.

Although the total damage of the house was only pegged at P150,000 the house caretaker a certain Joseph Pardo insisted damage was worth P500,000.

The house was rented to the Bacolods by a certain Emma Cugtas who is in reportedly in Singapore.