Old woman found dead, house burned

CEBU, Philippines - A 70-year-old woman was found dead and her house burned in sitio Lawang, Barangay Tigbao, Badian town, Cebu, last Wednesday around 1 p.m.

But police are not sure if it was an accident or foul play that killed Masing Auditor, a farmer.

It was Masing’s nephew Raul Auditor who found that the victim’s house already reduced to ashes when he came to visit her in sitio Lawang last Wednesday afternoon.

Raul sought the help of Masing half-brother Virgilio Pessara, 59, and Pessara immediately reported the incident to barangay captain Vitaliano Cominghud.

Captain Cominghud and Pessara then went to the Badian Police Station to report the incident and SPO1 Ronald Elcana, PO3 Ammanuel Caballero, PO2 Roland Rodriguez, PO2 William Beltran, PO1 Fortunato Purgatoryo, PO1 Randy Balansag and FO3 Pepito Villarubia of the Badian fire station were dispatched to the area.

There Masing’ remains were positively identified by Pessara.

While police said the fire may have been accidental it may also been caused by foul play because Masing’s relatives said the victim had sold a carabao shortly before the incident

Authorities also said it appears that two or three days had passed between the fire and the discovery of the house by the victim’s nephew.

The victim’s body is now in the custody of her family who declined to have it submitted for an autopsy.