Boy dies in Mandaluyong fire

MANILA, Philippines - A four-year-old boy was killed in a 45-minute fire that broke out during a power interruption in Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City Wednesday night.

Firemen recovered the burnt body of Aaron Cruz at their house on Tanglaw street at around 9:45 p.m.

Neighbors told arson investigator SFO2 Victor Tablay that the victim was sound asleep when his parents left him in his room at about 9 p.m.

Witnesses alleged the boy’s father was drinking with his friends while his mother went out of the house to have some fresh air as their barangay was hit by a power outage.

Tablay said the boy’s parents left a lighted candle in one part of the house and “left him sleeping alone.” Responding firemen put out the blaze after 45 minutes and prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent houses.

The boy’s parents returned and the firemen searched the house after they revealed that their only son was inside. Damage to property was placed at P40,000.