2 die, 1 hurt in Pasay fire

A 70-year-old woman and her male relative were killed while a fireman was injured in a fire that razed a two-story house in Pasay City early yesterday morning.

Two neighboring apartment units were also slightly damaged. Arson investigator Fire Officer 3 Renator Recto identified the fatalities as Charito Madried and Jun Greumberg, 40. Both were burned beyond recognition.

Meanwhile, Senior Fire Officer 2 Felix Lozarta, Jr. was brought to the Pasay City Hospital after a nail pierced through his right hand.

Neighbors claimed to have heard three gunshots coming from the house located at 1827 Dominga St. and owned by Gruemberg’s mother, before the fire broke out at around 3:12 a.m., Recto said.

Gruemberg’s charred remains were found inside his bedroom where the fire was believed to have originated and located at the ground floor of the house.

Madrid’s body was recovered in another room adjoining the main house.

Recto said pieces of aluminum foil and a small oxygen tank used for airguns were also discovered inside Gruemberg’s room. Also discovered in the same room were a caliber .45 revolver and two jungle bolos.

The weapons are now in the custody of the Pasay City Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Recto said a shabu session could have been held inside the room of Gruemberg, who was said to be jobless.

He added that neighbors claimed to have seen three unidentified men come out of the house before the fire, which reached the fifth alarm, broke out.

Recto said the fatalities’ remains were brought to the Veronica Funeral Parlor for autopsy.

As of press time, investigators are awaiting the post mortem reports that would determine if the bodies had gunshot wounds.

A fire out was declared at 4:36 a.m. and damaged to property was placed at an estimated P1.5 million. Authorities are conducting further investigation into the incident. – Nikko Dizon