Lagro mystery fire: Missing son may provide answers

Mystery continues to surround the fire that killed a couple and their two daughters in Barangay Lagro, Quezon City even as police attempt to locate the eldest son who was seen running away from the scene minutes before fire broke out at dawn last Saturday.

Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas, Quezon City fire chief, said Ryan Cadiao, 32, may be the only one who could shed light on the fire that gutted the family residence on Block 88, Lot 34, Domingo de Flores street, Lagro, Novaliches at around 3 a.m.

Trapped in the burning house were lawyer Raymond Cadiao, 68; his wife Charito, 58, a barangay kagawad, their daughters Charina, 23, an architect; and Carmel, 22, a pre-law student.

Their remains were brought to the Ascension of Our Lord Chapel in Lagro, Novaliches yesterday.

Even barangay officials have begun a search for Ryan, who was last seen fleeing toward a forested area near the La Mesa Dam.

The eldest of the Cadiao brood is a seasoned mountain climber and an expert in jungle survival.

Several years ago, he disappeared for several weeks in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre.

Renato Pabillar, an uncle, said they eventually found out that Ryan was held captive by an armed group of men.

He eventually escaped, but not before being tortured.

Since being reunited with his family, Ryan seldom goes out of the house and has become somewhat of a recluse.

"Mabait siya pero takot sa tao. Siguro iyan ang dahilan kung bakit siya tumakbo. May trauma pa," Pabillar said.

Ryan’s younger brother, Reginald, however, said Ryan had become the family’s problem child.

"May problema siya, gusto namin siyang makausap," he said.

Investigators said the fire is still under investigation and all angles are being looked into.

"Ryan is not a suspect," Villegas clarified. "We just want to get his account on what really happened that night."

He stressed that if investigators find out there was a foul play involved, "Then we will file the necessary charges."

"As of now, we cannot say whether it was a case of arson or murder," the fire chief said.

Villegas said the fire department will issue its initial findings as soon as laboratory and autopsy reports are released by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) at Camp Crame.

Investigators recovered near the gate a soiled T-shirt, which was initially believed to have been left behind by Ryan, but family members said the shirt belonged to their father.

Hissing sound

Elvis Hortilano, Lagro barangay executive officer, said tanods and neighbors who were first to the scene tried calling the attention of the family when smoke started coming from the house.

"Parang tulog na tulog sila," he said.

Hortilano said that as smoke started to rise, a tanod heard a hissing sound, apparently out from leaking LPG tank inside the house. Minutes later a loud explosion rocked the area causing flames to spread rapidly.

After the hour-long fire was contained, firefighters found the charred bodies of the couple under the debris of the collapsed roof of the house.

The bodies of their daughters Charina and Carmel were found embracing each other at the front door of the house.

Their sister Charlotte, 28, who was sleeping on the second floor survived the blaze by escaping from a window.

As of yesterday, she refused to talk to anyone. She and her brothers have received assistance from the city government.

Reginald, 22, was in Subic during the fire while Rex, the youngest was at a friend’s house.