Elderly woman killed in fire

An 81-year-old bed-ridden woman burned to death the other night after her mentally deranged son torched their apartment in Barangay San Jose, Quezon City.

Victim Araceli Garcia, of 12-F Pulagan street, A. Bonifacio, San Jose, sustained fatal injuries and died inside the two-story apartment.

Her son Manuel, 46, who was recently released from a mental institution, is now detained at the Central Police District headquarters awaiting proper charges to be filed against him.

Sources said Manuel set on fire their home after his brother Jose refused to give him some money.

Initial investigation showed that Manuel locked himself inside his room and set on fire a blanket using a lighter at about 7:30 p.m. The flames quickly engulfed the rest of the house and spread to other apartment units.

Manuel saved himself from the inferno by jumping through a window, Araceli, who was unable to stand or walk, died from the flames inside her room. The fire reached the fourth alarm and was declared out at about 8:55 p.m.

The timely arrival of firefighters prevented the blaze from reaching nearby houses. Manuel was immediately arrested. Other tenants scurried to safety with their belongings.

Sources said that the suspect was confined to a mental institution several weeks ago, but was later released because none of his relatives could keep him company. – Matthew Estabillo