CEBU – Members of a household in the town of Argao suffered second-degree burns when their house burned at around 1 a.m. yesterday after the alleged throwing of a kerosene lamp inside.
The victims, who are residents of sitio Cancainat in barangay Tulic, were identified as Ricardo Gealon, 45, an electrician of a foreign ship; his wife Gemma, a teacher; with their children Karen Keisha, 15, and Kyle Angelo Richard, 3; and househelps Nelly Antonio, 25, and Evelyn Acab, also 25.
PO1 Vivian Tamayo of the Argao Police Station said that in their initial investigation, Ricardo told them that one of the maids heard the smashing of glass in the living room of their house.
He said that the smell of kerosene alarmed the helper who then went out of her room to check the area. Upon seeing that the sala was already on fire, the maid shouted for help which woke them up. They then started securing the children.
The family sought treatment for second-degree burns at the South General Hospital in Minglanilla.
Tamayo said that they would be investigating further on what could have caused the fire, and if there is truth on the hurling of a kerosene lamp inside the house of the Gealon family.
Meanwhile, Sr. Insp. Noel Nelson Ababon, chief of the Argao Fire Station, confirmed that damages reached around P300,000.
“Basta sa among investigation, mas inclined mi aning electrical ang hinungdan sa sunog.
Pero amo sad nang tan-awon ang gisulti sa katabang nga gilabayan sila og gasera nga maoy nakaingon sa sunog,” Ababon said. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)