Court indicts man for “burning” grandma’s house

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has charged a 23-year-old man for arson for allegedly setting on fire the house of his grandmother in Sitio Isla Alegre in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas.

Assistant City Prosecutor Raul Cristoria held Mario Buenavista for trial after finding probable cause. The accused  opted not to file his counter-affidavit to answer the allegations against him.

“…the said accused, with deliberate intent, did then and there willfully, feloniously set on fire of the house of one Marcelina Gimena by stirring the charcoal in his house thereby causing the wooden frame of the dirty kitchen of said Gimena to be burned to the damage and prejudice of the latter,” the charge sheet reads.

Cristoria recommended P40,000 bail for Buenavista’s temporary liberty.  Sitio Isla Alegre residents Marijen Librado, Josephine Alcider, Ivy Mellejor, Erlinda Suerte, Lilibeth Malinao, Marilen Iran, and Jorail Saban said they know Gimena, 71, and her grandson Buenavista.

They alleged that on February 3, 2015, at about 6 p.m., Gimena and the Buenavista had a disagreement and in the height of their argument, Buenavista threatened to burn the houses in the neighborhood.

They said they suddenly saw smoke coming from the kitchen of Gimena’s house.

The neighbors called the attention of Gimena but she was not in the house anymore. Witnesses said they then helped each other putting out the fire.  In their joint-affidavit, barangay tanods Oliver Cabaluna, Jeffrey Calumpang, and Carlito Miñoza said they received a call from a resident of Sitio Isla Alegre asking for assistance.

“Having aware of the fact that a fire also burned more than 60 houses in the place just a week ago we quickly responded,” they stated, adding they conducted a follow-up operation to look for the accused after he fled away.

The tanods arrested the assuced in Sitio Cyco after receiving reports of his whereabouts. — Mylen P. Manto/ATO (FREEMAN)