Council to award boy burned in rescue try

CEBU - As a reward for his heroic act in trying to rescue his one-year-old sister from their burning house in barangay Basak-San Nicolas three weeks ago, the Cebu City Council is set to give P5,000 in financial assistance to eight-year-old Johnwell Polleros.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, action officer of the City Disaster Coordinating Council, said the granting of financial assistance to the child is very necessary because he was confined in the hospital due to burns and injuries as a result of trying to rescue her sister.

The amount will be taken from the city’s calamity fund budget, Carillo said.

Johnwell, a resident of barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, initially fled after finding out his house was on fire. But he later fought his way back into his house after remembering his little sister had been left behind.

He was later to know that his sister had been evacuated by neighbors.

Johnwell suffered burns and injuries left ear, left arm and both feet.

The fire officials later awarded the child who said he wants to be a fire fighter when he grows up. 

More than a hundred houses were destroyed in that fire. – Rene U. Borromeo/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)