Widower dies in Tabuelan fire

CEBU, Philippines - A widower was found charred inside his house after it was destroyed by a fire last Tuesday evening in the mountain barangay of Compostela, Tabuelan town. Bernabe Lobingco, 80, lived alone in his house as his children were already living with their own families.

Investigation revealed that Lobingco, who reportedly suffered from poor eyesight, may have toppled the kerosene lamp he was using which could have started the fire.

The house of the victim was made of light materials and easily caught fire.

Police suspected that Lobingco was no longer able to escape after collapsing from smoke inhalation.

The municipal fire truck responded to the area but due to the impassable roads firefighters took some time in reaching the house and extinguishing the flames.

The victim’s body was discovered as fire fighters were conducting overhauling operations.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Council yesterday recommended to the city council to place Lower Zone Kamansi in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, under a state of calamity after a fire razed 193 houses there the other day.

Once the city council approves the recommendation of the CDRRC, the city can gain access to the city’s calamity fund in order to give financial assistance to the fire victims.

It was learned from City Social Welfare Services chief Violeta Cavada that 268 families were affected by the fire.

Of the total number 239 families are house owners while 29 of them are renters.

House owners will each receive P10,000 in cash assistance from the city government while P5,000 will be given to renters.

SFO2 Roy Garcia said during a press conference yesterday that although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Edna, the live-in partner of Radencio Ramos, who allegedly owned the house where the fire allegedly started, said that the fire may have started from a neighbor’s electrical wire which traverses through their house.

“Niingon si Edna ang live-in partner ni Radencio nga posible nga kadtong nagkutay nga wire sa ilang silingan nga milahos sa ilang bay maoy posibling hinungdan sa sunog,” Garcia said.

It was also learned yesterday that most affected families were renters of the lot owned by Roberto Cabahug and each of them paid between P150 to P900 monthly.

Although Cabahug will still allow them to rebuild their houses in his lot he said he will not extend financial assistance as a third of the renters are reportedly delinquent when it comes to payment.

Only a small portion of the affected sitio is owned by the city government and is now used a relocation site for some informal settlers in the city. —(FREEMAN)