Businessman killed in blaze

A Filipino-Chinese businessman was killed in a three-hour fire that razed his house on Marinduque street in Barangay Del Monte, Quezon City early yesterday.

Quezon City fire marshal Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas identified the fatality as Arsenio Yao. His body was recovered from the debris after the fire was declared under control at 5 a.m.

Initial investigation showed that fire broke out at about 2 a.m., starting from the ceiling of Villegas’ house.

Villegas said arson investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

In Sampaloc, Manila, some 20 families were left homeless when fire razed a two-story residential building last Tuesday evening.

Arson probers said the fire started from the room occupied by one Woody Bermejo at around 6:30 p.m.

Bermejo is one of 20 tenants of a building owned by Chinese-Filipino businessman Basilio Sytapco at 2124 España street, Sampaloc.

The fire reached the fifth alarm before it was put out at around 7:10 p.m.

A huge traffic jam affected a stretch of España as residents placed their belongings along the road. Firetrucks had to take sidestreets to reach the fire scene.

No one was reported injured in the incident. Damage to property was placed at P400,000.

Arson investigator Fire Officer 1 Guillermo Fermalino said Bermejo is being questioned to determine the cause of the fire. – Perseus Echeminada, Nestor Etolle