Octogenarian killed in fire

CEBU, Philippines - An 89-year-old man who lived alone in his two-storey house was killed while three others were injured after a fire hit Sitio Riverside, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City Sunday night.

The fatality, Raymond Belda Jr., a US citizen, was alone when the fire broke out past 10 p.m.

Those injured were identified as Jericho Go, 20, who sustained cuts in his left foot; Charlie Sentillas, who also sustained cuts in his right hand; and Benjan Still Uy, 25, who was hurt in the right foot.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Daniel Relatado Jr. said that the fire alarm was received at 10:09 p.m.

Witnesses said the fire started at the house of Belda, but they could not tell whether it started in the upper floor or at the ground floor. The fire spread and went on to destroy 30 houses, three more were damaged.

Jocelyn Sentillas said that past 10 p.m. the other night while she and her husband were sleeping in their room, they heard people shouting and glass breaking all around them.

She thought that their neighbors were fighting, but when she got up from bed she saw the fire spreading all over the area.

“Abi man namo og nag-away ra to sila, naa untay nagsyagit-syagit pero niaana ra man ‘hoy! hoy!’ wa man moingon nga sunog,” she said.

Her house caught fire because of the window curtains but it was only damaged. Two of her pigs were killed in the fire, another survived but suffered burns.

She said their house has been damaged by fire on two occasions already. She added that their house was paid for via housing loan and the loan has not yet been fully repaid.

Sentillas has a daughter who was not so lucky after the fire destroyed her house and everything in it, including all her belongings and the money her husband earned from working abroad.

“Wa gyuy natilok hastang kwarta sa iyang bana nga naa sa cabinet nahurot og ka sunog,” she added.

Relatado told reporters that firefighters had difficulty penetrating the place because of the narrow access road. Firefighters had to link 10 hoses in order to reach the fire.

The fire reached Task Force Alpha at 10:28 p.m. and was declared under control at 11:04 p.m.

Homicide investigator SPO4 Rey Cuyos said Belda’s body was found in his house. He was believed to be bedridden due to old age.

Barangay Captain Trifonio Liquigan said that he will call for an emergency session to declare Sitio Riverside under a state of calamity. He said that the barangay has enough funds to extend financial support to the fire victims.

He added that for the meantime  the homeless will be temporarily housed at the Purok 8 gym.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Relatado estimated the damage at P300,000. He also said they will conduct further investigation to determine the cause of the fire.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)