3 dead as fires hit Caloocan, Las Piñas

MANILA, Philippines - Three persons, including two siblings, died when fires broke out in Caloocan City and Las Piñas over the weekend.

Arson investigators said a seven-year-old girl and her two-year-old brother died after they were trapped in their burning house on Diamond street, Merry Homes Subdivision in Caloocan Saturday morning.

Firefighters retrieved the bodies of Gabriela and Danny Castro after putting out the blaze at around 4 a.m.

Arson probers said the siblings died of suffocation.

Reports said the parents of the victims left their four children while they were sleeping at past 2:30 a.m.

Two of the children managed to get out of the house at the height of the fire.

At least P1 million worth of property was destroyed in the blaze, which was caused by faulty electrical wiring.

In Las Piñas, a man died after a fire broke out at a two-story house in Barangay Talon 2 yesterday morning.

The victim was identified as Marlon Balse, 32.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Adolfo Samala Jr. said they are still verifying reports that Balse locked himself in the room then set it on fire at 9:15 a.m. 

Arson investigators found Balse holding a sword after containing the fire at 10:15 a.m.

Neighbors said the victim locked himself on the second floor of the house Saturday night and stayed there until the fire broke out.

Arson investigators found an LPG tank and several used matchsticks in the partially burned house owned by Imelda Calpe. – With Perseus Echeminada