Boy, 2, dies in Caloocan fire

MANILA, Philippines - A two-year-old boy, left in his family’s house with two other children, was killed in a fire that allegedly started in their house in Caloocan City Wednesday night.

Mark Joshua Sabado was found dead in one corner of their house following the fire that started just before 9 p.m. near 7th Avenue in Barangay 122, said investigator Senior Fire Officer 1 Benedicto Tudla.

Two individuals, identified as Sonny Espiritu and Josefina Benitez, were also injured in the fire.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, but Tudla said they are looking into the possibility that an unattended kerosene lamp started the fire that razed 15 houses.

Sabado’s mother, Jenalyn Aquino, told Tudla that the family has been using kerosene lamps ever since their electricity supply was cut off five years ago.

Tudla said witnesses saw that the fire started from Aquino’s house, where the victim was reportedly left alone with two other children at the time of the incident.

The investigator said the children, ages five and six, were able to escape unhurt from the blaze. He reminded parents not to leave their children without adult supervision to prevent any loss of life in case of emergencies.

He said the fire, which reached second alarm, was put out at past 10 p.m. An estimated P1 million worth of properties were destroyed in the blaze.