One died, 800 families homeless: Arson eyed in Punta fire

CEBU, Philippines —  Authorities are zeroing in on arson as cause of the massive fire that displaced over 800 families in Barangay Punta Princesa in Cebu City evening on June 11, 2022.

The fire lasted for at least two hours with damage to property estimated at P16.5 million. At least five sitios were affected – Tuburan, Trinidad, Enriquez, Arca, and Little Bamboo.

The fire broke out in sitio Tuburan.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendel Villanueva, spokesperson of the Cebu City Fire Office, said several residents have issued statements saying the fire broke out after an altercation between a woman and the family of her live-in partner.

The woman, Marilou Alfeche, denied she had anything to do with the fire and went to the police to clear her name.

She told the police she left their house in sitio Tuburan even before the fire started because the family of her live-in partner allegedly threatened her.

The family reportedly got angry because they thought she was the one who had her live-in partner arrested for drugs.

The family allegedly threatened to put their house on fire if she would not leave, and even allegedly tried to destroy it.

Alfeche said she left with nothing but a plastic and milk for her child. She said she could not have burned her house down because she has nowhere else to go.

Residents

At least 677 houses were destroyed by the fire. Up to 850 families (3,475 individuals) lost their homes. One resident, 40-year-old Ebert Feniza, was confirmed dead.

Villanueva said they are also investigating Feniza’s death, considering that he was still helping people out of their houses and in putting the fire out.

A firefighter, Kent Anthony Gargao, sustained a first degree burn in his forehead.

The city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services also continues to record information as of this writing.

Portia Basmayor, head of DSWS, said they have given fire survivors initial aid but their immediate needs are food, hygiene kits, underwear, milk, diaper, and clothes.

Survivors are taking temporary shelter at the elementary school in the barangay, the Atillo Gym, and the gym in neighboring barangay Mambaling.

Even while firefighters were still battling the fire, other residents of the barangay and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the area started handing out food and water to survivors who sought refuge at the church grounds.

Response

The Cebu City Fire Office received the report at 5:53 p.m.

First alarm was raised at 5:58 p.m. while second alarm was raised at 6:08 p.m.

Third alarm was raised 15 minutes later as the fire continued to rage. By 6:53 p.m., authorities had to raise a fourth alarm to bring in more help.

Firefighters from neighboring local government units responded, including from Mandaue City, Talisay City, Consolacion, Minglanilla, Compostela, and Cordova.

Other fire groups also arrived to help like the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade.- Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Sanden J. Anadia, JMO (FREEMAN)