2 Sinos in Rosebud’s exposé hurt in fire

BAGUIO CITY — Two detained Chinese nationals, whom former undercover agent Mary "Rosebud" Ong has tagged as members of a big-time drug and kidnapping syndicate, were hurt when a fire razed the kitchen of the Baguio City jail late Tuesday afternoon.

The two, identified as Leung Kwan, 48, and Chung Shiao Tseng, 39, were arrested for a kidnap-for-ransom case by agents of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force here on Jan. 11 last year.

The two Chinese were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment of multiple first- and second-degree burns.

Leung and Chung are detained on charges of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms. Several kilos of shabu were seized from their house along Bawakan Road the day after their arrest.

Senior Inspector Constantine Supanga, city fire marshal, said Leung has to be hospitalized for at least two weeks due to burns on the face and left hand.

Chung, on the other hand, was released after he was treated for burns on both hands, right leg, lips and chin.

Jail warden Edgar Bolcio said the two Chinese volunteered to cook the inmates’ dinner last Tuesday while the regular cooks were attending the induction of the city jail’s inmates association.

The 10-minute fire was caused by a leak in the kerosene stove which Leung was using, probers said. — Artemio Dumlao