Tondo fire: 6 die

A family of six, including three teenage children, met fiery deaths in Tondo, Manila yesterday when a maid allegedly set their house on fire, arson investigators said.

None of the Separa family members survived the conflagration that reached a high of Task Force Delta alarm level as their two-story house, located along Moderna street, Balut, Tondo, was totally razed.

Barangay tanods later arrested the family’s domestic helper Edna Maingan, 22, who claimed she had left the house with an intention of leaving her employers, when the fire broke out about 5:15 a.m. Maingan was still at the vicinity of the house when nabbed by barangay tanods.

Killed were Separa family patriach Roberto, 45, his wife Virginia, 45, and children Michael, 24 Daphine, 18, Priscilla, 14, and Roberto Jr., 11. The elder Roberto is reportedly a paint contractor.

"What is strange about it is that she (the maid) did not attempt to help and go back to the house when the fire broke out," said Manila Fire Department Arson investigation head Chief Inspector Fennimore Jaudian.

Jaudian said they also found a cigarette lighter from Maingan’s belongings although she admitted to being a non-smoker.

During interrogation, Maingan said she was insulted by her employers the night before when she was told "to ride on a broomstick" to her home province in General Santos City. She said she was asking for her salary dating back to August 1999 for her trip home.

Minutes before the blaze, the suspect was seen by neighbors coming out of the house and stopped about 10 meters away. "She reportedly seemed to be looking around, as if anxious of something," said Jaudian quoting witnesses.

Minutes later neighbors reportedly saw smoke billowing out of the second floor windows, where all the family members are sleeping. Jaudian said the fire spread quickly as paints were stored in the house.

The blaze was placed under control about 6:50 a.m. The fire gutted seven other nearby houses and a Tamaraw FX van belonging to the Separa family. Total damage was estimated at P3.5 million.

"From the looks of the victims’ bodies they died in their sleep. The charred bodies were lying face up which is contrary to those who died trying to get out that are often lying face down," said Jaudian.

Maingan also told investigators that the Separas were good employers but that their construction business suffered heavy losses recently which caused the non-payment of her salaries since August.

Maingan is now detained at the Manila Fire Department Arson division detention center as charges against her are being prepared.