Sky lantern eyed in QC killer blaze

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are still looking into what could be the cause of the fire that trapped and killed a family of six and their helper in Barangay Bungad, Quezon City on Christmas Day.

There were reports about a sky lantern flown by a neighbor of the Filamors’ across the street, even as an illegal connection was discovered at the ground floor of the apartment unit occupied by the Filamor family located in Rest Haven street.

However, Senior Superintendent Bobby Baruelo, city fire marshal, believes that the most probable cause was faulty electrical wiring.

The charred remains of veterinarian Carlos Filamor; his wife Corazon; their two children Carlos Jr. and Eva; Eva’s two sons Miguel Andrei Mutuc and Mateo Aaron Mutuc; and family helper Marina Ayon were recovered after the flames were put out.

The family owned the 16 two-story apartment units, all of which were razed by the flames, including the one they occupied. Some 80 persons are now staying at the village hall.

Village chairman Ricardo Corpuz said a neighbor admitted to having flown two sky  lanterns made of paper.

Corpuz said he first heard of the account from a tricycle driver who saw the neighbor setting off the lanterns, which are set aloft when fire is lighted inside the lanterns.

One of these lanterns was reportedly found inside a factory nearby, while the second lantern has not been found.

Corpuz said some people believe this could have started the fire as it could have landed on the apartment units owned by the Filamors.

But Baruelo discounted this possibility because “if it really happened, the one who set off the lanterns would have seen it and informed those living in the apartment units.”

Based on accounts, the lanterns were flown at past 4 a.m. while the call received by firefighters about the fire incident was at 5:27 a.m. The first alarm was set at 5:29 a.m.

Baruelo said this would have meant the apartment units were already burning for about an hour before the fire fighters were called.

Corpuz claimed firemen were slow to respond, but Baruelo insisted that the firefighters would have responded immediately when called.

The fire marshal said the flames were put under control about an hour after the firefighters responded to the scene.

Baruelo also said they were not ruling out other possibilities, including the one about the lanterns, and even foul play. But he said the evidence gathered so far pointed to the illegal power connection.

‘Ladder saved other residents’

While the entire Filamor household perished in the incident, residents of the other units got out just before the flames razed the entire place.

The Lacaba family pointed to a ladder which tenants erected and leaned on a wall at the back of the units.

According to family members, most of the survivors managed to get out by scaling the wall to get to the roof of the property at the back using the ladder.

Children, especially babies, had to be tossed to people at the other end just to escape.

Only two did not use the ladder: tenant Nino Lopez and his daughter, who boarded their Tamaraw FX parked downstairs and rammed the vehicle into the gate until it gave way.

Fiery Christmas day

Meanwhile, members of the San Juan Fire Department retrieved yesterday the charred remains of a 54-year-old man who was reported missing at the height of the fire in barangay St. Joseph.

The fatality was identified as Wilfredo Dinero Jr., brother of St. Joseph barangay captain Nelia Duka.

Dinero’s brother-in-law said the victim was trapped inside his house because he was drunk when the fire broke out.

The police, on the other hand, are looking for two men who allegedly beat to death a 32-year-old man mistakenly tagged as being responsible for the fire.

But Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel clarified that the killing of Michael Muñoz, 32, was not related to the fire as previously reported.

Angry residents reportedly ganged up on Muñoz after he was accused of starting the fire.

However, San Juan Fire Marshall Gilberto Dolot said the flames were started by the son of Francisco Baulite, Simon, and his cousin Edmelyn Robles, who played with lighted candles at the second floor of the their house along Marne street. – With Non Alquitran, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe