2 injured in Caloocan City blaze

A 73-year-old widow and a fireman were injured in a fire that broke out in a residential area in Caloocan City yesterday morning.

FO2 Loreto Reas of the Caloocan Fire Station sustained lacerations in his right arm that needed seven stitches when a galvanized iron sheet fell on him while he was putting out the blaze.

Eulalia Mapalad, an occupant of the burned house at 3637 Zabarte Road, Franville Subdivision, Camarin, suffered burns in the back.

Case officer FO1 Marcelino Esposo III, said no one was inside the house owned by Teresa Caldosa, 52, married, when the blaze broke out in the kitchen at around 8:01 in the morning.

Reports said the house, which was made of light materials quickly burned down in the fire that was contained 30 minutes later.

A not so lucky Mapalad, Cardosa’s relative, was injured while trying to save some of their belongings, arson investigators said.

Esposo said they are still determining the cause of the fire that destroyed property worth P200,000.

Meanwhile, four suspected holdup men were arrested by police shortly after victimizing a pianist in Caloocan City early yesterday morning.

Now behind bars are suspects Noel Yuson, 29; Anthony Lopez, 19; Ricky Calugay, 29; and Larry Uriarte, all of Calaanan Compound along EDSA in Caloocan City.

According to PO3 Ronald Tanghal, officer on case, the incident took place around 2 a.m. while the victim, Arsenio Concepcion, 56, a resident of Bagong Barrio, was walking home when he was accosted by the suspects at knifepoint.

The suspects got the victim’s P7,000 cash and jewelry and immediately fled by boarding a passenger jeepney.

Right after the incident, Concepcion, who works as a pianist in a bar along EDSA, immediately sought assistance at the nearest police station. – Jerry Botial