QC assists family in Lagro fire

The Quezon City government and Barangay Lagro authorities are taking care of the expenses for the funeral of four family members killed in a fire last Saturday.

Manuel Tolentino, Lagro barangay chairman, said Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has authorized the payment of funeral expenses and has provided financial assistance to the surviving Cadiao siblings — Charlotte, Reginald and Rex. They are temporarily staying at a shelter provided by the barangay.

"Kami ang ama ng bayan," Tolentino said.

Lawyer Raymond Cadiao, 68; his wife Charito, 58, a barangay kagawad, and their daughters Charina, 23, and Carmel, 22, were killed after being trapped in their burning house on Block 88, Lot 34, Domingo de Flores street, Lagro, Novaliches last Saturday.

Tolentino said the remains of the victims have been taken to the Our Lady of the Ascension Chapel.

Charlotte escaped from the burning house by climbing out the window. Her brothers Reginald and Rex were not in the house during the incident.

Another brother, Ryan, was seen running away from the house minutes before the fire started. He remains missing.

Barangay watchmen have intensified their search for the 32-year-old son.

Elvis Hortilano, barangay executive officer, said the barangay has deployed more night patrols to monitor the outskirts of the barangay in the effort to locate him.

"If he is spotted, we will exhaust all efforts to take him into custody," Hortilano said.

Although Ryan is not yet a suspect in the case pending result of the autopsy and laboratory test on the debris, authorities want to take his statement to shed light on the incident.

"Ryan is only witness to the fire incident," Hortilano said.