Family of 3 die in QC fire

A family of three burned to death in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City after their house went up in flames because of an unattended candle left at their altar Saturday night.

According to FO2 Allan De Jesus, the victims’ names "are not yet available," but said that the damage to the house was estimated at about P1.5 million.

The blaze, which reached the fourth alarm, was over in less than an hour after firefighters from different areas of Metro Manila immediately arrived on the scene.

De Jesus said that the fire started at about 11:08 p.m. at a house located at 85 Pinky Anne St., Barangay Pasong Tamo. He said the whole house burned down after one of the victims left a burning candle at the altar.

"The victims of the fire were most likely asleep when the blaze started, and they only woke up when the house was already filled with smoke – which trapped them inside," he said in a telephone interview.

Responding firemen arrived and quickly doused the flames, but the victims had already burned to death inside their home. The fire was declared out at around 11:53 p.m.

De Jesus stressed that the timely arrival of Metro Manila firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to other homes, but added that their failure to save the victims is tragic.

Authorities are still conducting follow-up investigations to determine any other cause of the fire and to make sure that arson was not involved in anyway.

Meanwhile, a 17-year old boy was killed in a fraternity rumble in Paco, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Kermit Navarro, a resident of Mataas na Lupa, Paco, Manila. He sustained a gunshot wound in the body and died while being taken to a nearby hospital.

Operatives of the Western Police District are now hunting down a group of teenagers believed behind the killing.

Probers said the rumble took place along South Super Highway, near San Andres st., Paco, Manila at around 3:15 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses said the victim and his friends were having a chat when the suspects’ group arrived and without any word attacked the victim’s group.

Investigators theorized that the incident was a result of fraternity rivalry. – Matthew Estabillo and Cecille Suerte Felipe