Man dies after torching own house

MANILA, Philippines - A nephew of a barangay councilman died after setting his house on fire in Parañaque City Wednesday afternoon.

Neighbors of former seaman Manuel Santos, 32, tried to take him out of his two-story house in Tramo 1, San Dionisio but he refused and threw things at them.

“After that, the neighbors left him alone because the fire was already getting bigger,” said city fire marshal Superintendent Manuel Manuel.

Santos’ body was found on the floor near the stairs 20 minutes after he started the fire at around 2:55 p.m.

None of the nearby houses were affected, according to Manuel, who added that Santos could have used a liquefied petroleum gas tank to start the fire.