Man, 20, burns down house

CEBU, Philippines - A 20-year-old man was arrested by the police after he allegedly set his house on fire Sunday in Barangay Sta. Filomena, Alegria town.

Franciso Glova was reportedly under the influence of liquor when he committed the incident.

Police Officer 2 Lenard Cabahug narrated that the suspect, drunk, arrived home past 7 p.m. on Sunday and figured in an argument with his sister.

Their father Cirilo tried to pacify them but the suspect reportedly ran amock and bit his father’s chest.

Cirilo was leaving the house to supposedly seek for police help when he saw Francisco throwing stones at their house.

The suspect’s mother, in fear, also fled from the house and they later saw the suspect threw lighted kerosene lamp into the house.

The suspect’s 17-year-old brother managed to go to the police station and ask for help but the house, which was situated some seven kilometers from the police station, was already engulfed in flames by the time they have responded to the area.

The suspect was arrested after he was identified by his father and sister as the one responsible for the fire.

He was released the following morning after his parents did not press charges against him.

According to the police, the parents said at least 16 sacks of corn that was supposed to be the family’s consumption for one year all went in flames. — (FREEMAN)