300 houses destroyed as paralytic sets self ablaze

A despondent 54-year-old paralytic set himself ablaze, triggering a three-hour fire that razed more than 300 houses in three coastal barangays in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan yesterday afternoon, authorities said.

Reports said some 10 residents, among them children, in Barangays Bagong Pagasa, San Isidro and Matahimik Seaside were injured in the blaze which destroyed property estimated at about P40 million. A six-month-old baby, identified as Novelyn Marquez, was reported missing.

Chief Superintendent Alejandro Lapinid, police director of Mimaropa (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan), said the fire started at 2 p.m. when Dominador Sidaya doused himself with gasoline and then lit it up.

"He became desperate because of his condition," Lapinid said in a cellular phone interview. Sidaya, he said, apparently lost hope after he failed to recover from a stroke that he suffered recently.

Boy Bonoan, provincial information officer, however, said this has yet to be verified, adding that Sidaya’s relatives denied in radio interviews that he set himself on fire, thus triggering the blaze.

Sidaya’s relatives said he could not have done such a thing since he was paralyzed, but admitted that he died in the fire, Bonoan said.

Lapinid said strong winds fanned the flames which easily gobbled up the houses which were made of light materials.

The affected families, numbering about 1,500, were given temporary shelter in three public schools.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn has ordered the displaced families transferred to the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.