4 siblings die in Batangas fire

Padre Garcia, Batangas , Philippines  – Four siblings aged five to nine were charred beyond recognition when they were trapped inside their burning house here early yesterday morning, fire official said.

Senior Inspector Von Nicasio, operations chief of Batangas Bureau of Fire identified the victims as Paula Mariz, nine; Prell Marilyn, eight; Prell Monique, six and Patrick Marlon, five, all surnamed Bolaños of Barangay Payapa here.

According to reports, the victims were sleeping inside their house when a gas lamp accidentally fell on the floor causing the fire inside their wooden house at around 12:20 a.m.

Paul Mark,11, another sibling of the victims, was awakened by the fire and immediately rushed to his parent’s room downstairs to wake his father Apolinario. Both escaped from the burning house unscathed.

“Ginising daw ni Paul Mark yung mga kapatid niya bago siya pumunta sa tatay niya sa ibaba ng bahay pero hindi pala sumunod pababa yung mga kapatid niya kaya nakulong na ang mga bata sa taas ng bahay nang biglang lumaki ang apoy,” Fire Officer 3 Osmundo Balbastro, Padre Garcia fire chief quoted the survivor.

Balbastro said the children’s mother Maria was out of the house fetching her eldest daughter Pauline May 12, who was then watching a variety show at the town plaza when the fire broke out. – Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso