2 boys trapped at home in fire

TWO young boys were killed in a fire that hit a house in the mountain barangay of Catolohan, Dalaguete, Cebu early yesterday morning.

John Mark Jorolan, 3, and Jayden Sydney Indig, 4, were burned to death after being trapped inside the one-level shanty. Their charred remains were found side by side in the kitchen.

PO3 Maximo Belceña of Dalaguete Police Station told Sun.Star Cebu the blaze erupted past 8 a.m. while the victims were left alone at home.

He said a resident noticed the flames and immediately called for help.

“Nag-sige ug hilak ang mga bata sa sulod. Gisuwayan nila ug bubo ug tubig pero di na mada (The boys kept crying. Their neighbors tried to douse the fire with water but it was too late),” Belceña said.

The fire, fanned by strong winds, immediately ate up the house owned by Anastacio Asenjo, Indig’s grandfather.

Indig had visited Jorolan early to play, while the latter’s mother watched them nearby.

A few minutes later, the two walked away and went to Indig’s house. Asenjo was not around at that time as he went to his farm to work.

“Murag ug nangaon ni sila (It looked like they were having breakfast),” Belceña said.

Authorities are still investigating what caused the fire but are not discounting the possibility of an electrical short circuit.

Firefighters only learned of the incident later. The area is about 23 kilometers away or an hour’s drive from the town proper.

Police said the boys were not seen holding matches or playing with fire.

Belceña revealed that Indig had been left in his grandfather’s care while his mother worked in Cebu City. His nine-year-old brother left early to go to school.

Indig’s wake is being held at Catolohan Elementary School while Jorolan’s funeral service is at home. “Subo kaayo sila tanan. Wa magtuo nga mahitabo ‘to (The families are grief-stricken. They couldn’t believe what happened),” the police investigator said.