Parish priest dies in Sta. Mesa fire

A parish priest in Bacood, Sta. Mesa died early yesterday morning after a fire of still unknown origin razed his rectory room, fire officials said.

Reports from the Arson Division of the Manila Fire Department identified the victim as Fr. Raul Villamiel, 45, parish priest of the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church, located along Biyaya street.

According to reports, Villamiel was sleeping inside his room on the second floor of the rectory near the still being constructed parish school building when the fire struck at about 3:39 a.m.

Responding firefighters found the victim slumped on the floor with burns in his arms and face. Arson investigators said the victim died from suffocation and smoke inhalation.

Responding firemen contained the fire, which only reached first alarm, at about 3:58 a.m. There were no others reported injured.

Arson investigators are still determining the cost of damage caused by the fire.

Residents suspect that foul play was behind the victim’s death. According to residents interviewed by The STAR, the victim could have been killed and the fire was used to cover-up the crime.

But according to residents, the victim who had served as parish priest in the community for the past three years, had no known enemies.

"He was a kind priest. He was hardworking and showed special concern to the children. He even spearheaded the construction of the school near the church. We like him and we are shocked by his death," said Fe Buenaventura, a long-time parishioner.

The same sentiments were echoed by Jat Alipio, the victim’s secretary.

Alipio said that prior to his assignment as a diocesan priest in Bacood, the victim who hails from Cavite, also served as parish priest in Sto. Cristo, Quezon City and then in Parañaque.

Meanwhile, four police teams are hot on the trail of the killers of police Inspector German Hepuller whose brutally-tortured body was recovered in Taytay, Rizal last Saturday.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director, Chief Superintendent George Aliño, said they are in the process of identifying persons who attended Hepuller’s wake in Barangay San Juan. "We are now in the process of gathering information," Aliño said. "We are zeroing in on the suspects."

Hepuller, according to Aliño, could have fought back prompting his attackers to torture him.

"It’s possible that the suspects are attending the wake," said Aliño.

According to Aliño, all males who disappeared from the neighborhood will automatically be tagged as suspects.

A number of Hepuller’s neighbors vacated their houses after he was reported missing last July 25, police said. – Non Alquitran