Man charged in court for 'burning' own house

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has elevated arson charges to court against a man who allegedly set his own house on fire in barangay Apas last week.

City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon said there is probable cause that Juan Cabiling Soñas may be guilty of the crime.

Regional Trial Court executive judge Mienrado Paredes subsequently ordered Soñas detained at the Cebu City Jail, as he is not allowed to post bail for temporary liberty.

The city fire department filed arson charges against Soñas after his niece and sister-in-law pointed to him as the one who allegedly set their ancestral house on fire last June 6.

Olive Cabiling Soñas and her aunt Teresita claimed they heard the accused threatening to burn their house before the fire broke.

Olive said she was already about to sleep when she smelled something like burning plastic. When she looked out of the window, she then saw Soñas’ room already aflame, prompting her to alert the other people in the house.

“Manabla gyud ko, sunogon nako ang balay para madamay tanan,” Olive quoted Soñas as saying.

She did not, however, say what Soñas’ motive could be in burning the house but said she reportedly saw the respondent keep a gallon of gasoline in his room prior to the fire.

The fire department estimated damage at P200,000. - Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)