Arson eyed in Punta fire

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Fire Department is now eyeing at arson as possible cause of the recent fire which broke out along F. Llamas and Sabellano Streets in barangay Punta Princesa, this city.

Fire investigator Antonio Gonzales said that they are now considering arson after they recovered a cloth that smelled of kerosene near the door of the dental clinic gutted by the said fire.

The clinic, found to be owned by one Dr. Gretta Damalerio-Guiroy, was gutted along with two other houses owned by a certain Rodolfo Avila and one Basilio Nadela.

Nadela’s place was said to be situated on the second floor of an “ukay-ukay” shop owned by Avila. 

Michael Garcia, a resident, said that they were the first to have rushed into the fire scene when the fire broke out as they were having a drinking session near the area prior to the incident after a basketball tournament. “Pero pagduol namo amo mang nasimhotan ang isog kaayo’ng baho sa gas,” he said.

“Ato pa’ng ipa-examine ang panapton sa NBI, pero ang iyang baho klaro kaayo’ng dunay gas. Kini maoy atong tutokan kon posibleng arson ba ni ilabi na nga duna’y ejectment case ang duha ka balay nga nangasunog,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales got information that Avila filed an ejectment complaint against Nadela and that such case is now pending before the Court of Appeals. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)