Boy dies in Old Balara house fire

A six-year-old boy met a fiery death after his mentally-challenged brother accidentally set their house on fire in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City Monday.

Victim Erwin Espiritu, of 788 Tandang Sora St., Barangay Old Balara, suffered heavy burns all over the body and was pronounced dead on arrival by physicians at a nearby hospital.

Police sources said that the victim’s brother, who is reportedly suffering from a rare mental illness, was playing with a lighted candle while their grandmother was still asleep.

Initial reports showed that the incident took place at about 5:30 a.m. inside their residence in Tandang Sora Street. Police said Erwin’s parents were out of the house shopping for Christmas gifts and left the grandmother to take care of the kids. Erwin’s brother Jose, 9, was already awake at the time.

Jose accidentally toppled a lighted candle over a curtain in their living room, setting fire on the entire house, investigators said.

While Jose and his grandmother were able to get out of the house, Erwin was left inside his room. Reports said he was burned beyond recognition. He was taken to the hospital but he died at about 6:15 a.m.

Meanwhile, the police arrested early Monday morning one of four men who allegedly shot dead a 24-year-old newsboy near his home in Barangay Paraiso, Quzon City.

Victim Roderick Kam, of 9-A, Paraiso Street, sustained a bullet wound in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians at the Quezon City General Hospital.

The suspect, Angelito Gabriel, 24, of 19 Caragay St., Barangay Damayan Lagi, is now detained at the Central Police District headquarters.

Reports showed that the incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. near the victim’s home in Barangay Paraiso. Kam was walking home with his friend, Richard Alday after a drinking session.

The suspects’ on board a tricycle (TP-8292) appeared and blocked their path. For still unknown reasons, one of the assailants shot Kam, who was hit on the left side his chest.

The suspects fled the scene as Kam collapsed on the pavement. He was taken to the hospital where he died at about 3:45 a.m. Follow-up operations by the police led to Gabriel’s arrest. – Matthew Estabillo