Widower, 85, dies in Tabogon fire

CEBU, Philippines - A widower was burned to death when an early morning fire gutted his nipa hut in Barangay Libjo, Tabogon yesterday.

The 85-year-old Henobibo Andrin was reportedly too weak to save himself from the fire which was allegedly caused by unattended cooking.

Insp. Eulalio Muñez, Bogo City fire marshal, told The FREEMAN that Andrin was cooking breakfast when fire from his dirty kitchen reached the wall of his house and eventually razed the entire nipa hut.

Miguel Andrin, 46 and one of the sons of Henobibo, reportedly rushed to the scene and tried to save his father but failed due to the thick smoke and heat coming from the hut.

The Bogo City Fire Station received a telephone call from the Tabogon Police Station informing them about the incident at about 7:45 in the morning.

But when firemen arrived, the hut was totally burned and all they were able to do was retrieve the body of the victim.

“Maglisod na man gud ni siya og lihok kay tiguwang na kaayo unya mao pa gyud usa sa balay. (He had difficulty moving around because he was already old and was alone in his house),” Muñez said in a phone interview.

The damage was pegged at P5,000.

Muñez added that the nipa hut was about a kilometer away from the nearest house and situated at a hilly portion of the place.

Henobibo lived alone in the house when all his children got married.  (FREEMAN)