Mad firestarter foiled in Manila

Residents of a crowded neighborhood in Sampaloc, Manila were thrown into panic yesterday morning when a drug-crazed man attempted to set his house on fire for failure to obtain money for his drug habit.

But the well-executed negotiation plan of newly designated Sampaloc police chief Senior Superintendent Bernardo Diaz prevented the suspect from carrying out his "flaming" act.

Murphy Tabifranca, 21, of 1239 E. Quintos Street, Sampaloc, was subdued by police as he opened the house gate to allow his live-in partner to talk to him, one of his demands in an hour-long negotiation with Diaz.

At about 10:30 a.m., Tabifranca demanded money from his aunt Emma. When he was given P100, Tabifranca got irked and demanded P700.

When he could not get what he wanted, the suspect chased his aunt with a kitchen knife.

The suspect then locked himself in one of the rooms, opened the valve of a gas tank and threatened to set the house on fire. He also challenged responding policemen to shoot him.

Diaz tried to talk the suspect into giving up peacefully, and, at the same time, called for firetrucks and an ambulance.

Residents of the neighborhood started to pack their belongings as the smell of the escaping gas filled the area. The suspect also started to burn pieces of paper, warning policemen he would carry out his plan if they continue to approach the two-story house.

"Sige pasok kayo para pare-pareho na tayong mamatay (We will all die if you try to enter)," Tabifranca shouted while holding a burning piece of paper.

Diaz’s plan was to outwit the suspect by giving in to all of his demands, while giving instructions to his men to pounce on the suspect when he opened the gate. Another officer was ordered to make a dash for the kitchen to turn off the gas valve.

The plan was successfully carried out.

Tabifranca, who has just been released from a rehabilitation center, is now facing charges of attempted arson, alarm and scandal, resisting arrest and grave threat.