Bacolod fire leaves teen, 2 brods dead

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A 16-year-old girl and her two brothers were killed in a fire that gutted their home in Barangay Handumanan in this city yesterday.

A report from the Aksyon Radyo identified the victims as Riza Montero and her brothers Rex, 7, and Kulot, 3.

Village councilman Jojo Hiponia said the fire destroyed five other houses in Purok Kawayan.

The siblings were sleeping when the fire broke out at about 2 p.m., according to their aunt, Badgit Teopiz.

Teopiz said they heard the children shouting for help but they failed to save them as the flames had spread quickly.

She said in a radio interview that the fire could have been caused by a cell phone left plugged in too long.