Man sets himself on fire inside Magellan's Cross

 CEBU, Philippines - A lot of people gathered around the famous Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City early yester morning,  but not for the usual tourism purposes.

A man, whom guards said usually visited to pray inside the famous landmark, set himself on fire.

His identity remained a mystery as of press time. He is in critical condition at the Cebu City Medical Center where he is treated for his burns.

Marjorie Salbi, 36, who sells candles for church goers, said she saw the man entered the Magellan’s Cross at around 7 a.m. yesterday carrying a bottle of liquid.

She then saw the man praying and later on, pouring the liquid from the bottle on himself. It turned out that the bottle’s content was gasoline.

The man mumbled prayers before he clicked on the lighter that he was carrying.

He didn’t moan even with the flames engulfing his body, witnesses said.

A woman who saw what happened took off her jacket, rushed inside the Magellan’s Cross and used the jacket in her attempt to put out the fire from the body of the victim, who now fell on the floor.

Bryan Felisilda, security guard of the nearby Cebu City Hall, took an extinguisher and sprayed it on the victim.

“Grabeha lagi sir kay ang kusug kaayo nga kayo hapit g’yud miabut sa atup sa kiosk sa Magellan’s Cross,” said Felisilda. (The fire almost reached the ceiling of the Magellan’s Cross.

A staff of the hospital said the victim suffered from severe burns from the head to the groin area.

They recovered a receipt from the man’s pocket showing that the gasoline was purchased that day from a fuel station in T. Padilla.

Albert Jagunal, the church guard, said he often saw the victim going to the church either to use the comfort room or pray at the Cross.

Felisilda said there was no documents found that would show the man’s identity.

Dr. Ross Villero of the CCMC’s surgery department said the victim sustained second degree burns and that they applied Plasma Terium, a cream for burns,  on the patient.

 In 1986, an engineer also poured gasoline on his body inside the Plaza Independencia and asked one of his aides to set him on fire, believing that three hours after his death he will be resurrected. — /JPM (FREEMAN)