Spiritual leader runs amok, dies in fire

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – A 59-year-old spiritual leader and former soldier died of suffocation after running amok and setting a house on fire in Dasmariñas, Cavite last Friday night, police said. 

According to reports, gunshots were heard and then a fire broke out in a house that the group of Rafael Policarpio used as worship venue in San Marino Subdivision.

Witnesses said they saw Policarpio running amok inside the house, owned by a certain Asuncion Santiago who along with her children managed to flee during the fire.

Firemen and policemen could not go near the house as the gun-wielding Policarpio was still there.

Police were still clueless on what drove Policarpio to run amok in their place of worship.