Maid admits setting house on fire

The housemaid who allegedly torched to death a family of six in Tondo, Manila last Tuesday morning was charged yesterday with consummated arson in the Manila City Fiscal’s Office after she allegedly confessed to the crime.

Charged by the Manila Fire Department Arson Division with consummated arson was 22-year-old Edna Maingan.

Maingan, arson probers said, was the one who allegedly set on fire a two-story house along Moderna street, in Balut, Tondo. Six members of the Separa family, the suspect’s employers, were burned to death in the incident.

Killed in the 5:15 a.m. fire were house painting contractor Robert Separa, 45; his wife Virginia, 45, and children Michael, 24 Daphine, 18, Priscilla, 14, and Roberto Jr., 11.

Barangay tanods later arrested Maingan as she was reportedly waiting for a taxi to escape as the fire was raging.

Arson probers said they found a lighter among Maingan’s belongings although she admitted to being a non-smoker.

It was earlier reported that witnesses saw the suspect coming out of the victims’ house minutes before the blaze. She was seen stopping about 10 meters away from the house as if "anxious of something."

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

According to Fire Officer 1 Gregorio Domingo, who served as clerk during the investigation, Maingan initially denied that she was the one who set the house on fire.

"However, when we explained that she was the only suspect in the case, she broke down and verbally admitted the crime," Domingo said.

Domingo said Maingan did not intend to kill the victims but "merely to set the house on fire."

"She said she was just so angry that she decided to set the house on fire. She claimed that she did not plan to kill the family members," Domingo said.

Domingo said that the suspect’s verbal admission of the crime was already enough to charge her with the crime as this was supported by evidence and the accounts of at least three witnesses – all neighbors of the victims.

According to Domingo, the suspect was especially most angry at Virginia Separa who allegedly was the one who refused to pay her wages.

Maingan was reportedly not paid her wages since August after the Separas’ construction business suffered heavy losses. She is now detained in the custody of the Manila City Jail.

The fire was placed under control at 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.