2 kids die in Las Piñas fire

MANILA, Philippines - Two siblings age seven and nine died after their house in Las Piñas City caught fire before dawn yesterday.

Marc Elvis Bialzo, 9, and sister Eloisa Mae, 7, were found embracing each other after the flames have died out from their house in Leonardo Compound, Barangay Talon Uno.

Their bodies were not charred and investigators believe they died of suffocation, a report by Senior Fire Officer 3 Gerardo Porli said.

Porli said a lit candle left unattended could have caused the fire. The children’s mother, Marilou Bialza, told arson investigators they used a candle but put it out before they slept.

The Bialzas were sleeping at the house’s second floor when Marilou was awakened by a loud sound coming from downstairs about 12:40 a.m. She got up to check it and saw that fire had already engulfed the house.

Marilou was able to escape but her children were left inside the house. Neighbors saw them crying by the window, which was secured with iron grills.