Navotas fire leaves 1,300 families homeless

A fire, believed caused by a neglected kerosene lamp, gutted the homes of 1,300 families in two barangays in Navotas early yesterday morning.

Navotas Fire Marshal Gardy Antonio initially placed the damage at P10 million. No one was reported killed or hurt as a result of the blaze that erupted at around 2:15 a.m. The fire was declared out only at 7:35 a.m.

Arson probers said the fire started at the house of a certain Myrna Carvajal, of 41 Leongson Extension, Tabing-dagat, San Roque, Navotas. Strong winds fanned the flames, which eventually crept to adjoining houses in Barangay Daanghari.

Electricity in the area was reportedly cut three days prior to the incident due to illegal connections problems, prompting residents to use candles and kerosene lamps.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, in an emergency meeting with officials of the local disaster coordinating council, ordered the immediate release of P1,000 to each of the affected families in Barangay San Roque and Daanghari as a form of financial assistance.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman personally rushed to the area for a first-hand look at the damage brought by the fire and the condition of the fire victims, who were housed temporarily in four nearby schools.

The Social Welfare office also distributed relief goods as soon as the fire was put out.

Meanwhile, as firemen and local residents were busy containing the fire, a cable thief was caught sawing off Meralco cablewires and was critically wounded after he was shot by an irate resident.

PO3 Rafael Espadero, officer on case, said the incident occured at around 4:30 a.m. when a certain Minde Pascual, who was trying to save his family’s belongings, was suddenly hit in the face by a cable wire. Stunned and angered, he looked up and saw the suspect, identified as Edmundo Geraldizo, 52, of Dulo St., Kapalaran Extension, San Roque, Navotas, sawing off cable wires apparently with the intention to make some money from it.

Pascual whipped out a handgun and fired at Geraldizo several times. The suspect was hit once in the head and twice in the body and fell to the ground. Geraldizo was brought to the Tondo General Hospital for treatment, police said.