Fire kills 2 kids left asleep at home

CEBU, Philippines - Charred bodies were all that was left of two children in Sitio Kansantik, Barangay Bato, Sibonga town after fire broke out in their house past 3 p.m. yesterday.

Sibonga Police Station Chief Rolando Antipolo identified the victims as Ezequil Gab Sarnillo, 4, and Philip Hans Sarnillo, 1.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Julde Deposa, municipal fire marshal, said a ceiling fan that overheated may have caused the fire.

Antipolo said the parents, Armando and Gemma Sarnillo, left the children sleeping when the incident happened. Armando reportedly went to work while Gemma went to a store.

Initial investigation showed that some neighbors actually heard the cries of two children but just ignored them thinking that it was not out of the ordinary.

The Sarnillo's home is located at the top of a hilly area, with the nearest neighbors situated farther down.

Antipolo said it was impossible for the neighbors to rescue the children since the houses are situated far from each other.

"Lisod gyod ang dalan didto…. Kato sigurong mga silingan nagtuyok-tuyok pa og pahibalo unya na-ugdaw na lang gyod ang balay kay amakan ra man (The house was difficult to reach. The time it took the neighbors to gather together to help was enough for the house be burned to the ground, as it was made of bamboo matting)," Deposa told The FREEMAN.

The neighbors notice something was amiss only after the house was fully consumed by fire.

All that the responding policemen found were the charred bodies of the children. 

Since their house was reduced to ashes, the Sarnillos brought the remains to the house of Armando's sibling for mourning. — (FREEMAN)