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Tuesday, September 14, 2004
3 children charred in Sasa slum fire
By Joy G. Romares and Rex C. Otero
DAVAO CITY -- Three children left on their own, locked in a room while their parents were out looking for a living, were charred beyond recognition by fire that razed 14 houses and rendered 20 families homeless in a seaside community in Sasa, Sunday afternoon.
The fatalities were identified as Jason Tumayao, 6, and his two younger brothers Roy, 3, and Eric, 2, residents of Bolinao Site at Km. 12 in Sasa.
Their mother, Amy, was out selling rice cakes while their father, Roy, was working as a painter on San Pedro Street.
Amy was inconsolable and crying to be allowed to hug the burnt remains of her children after the fire was placed under control.
"Ang akong mga anak, pagaksa ko sa akong mga anak (Let me hug my children)," Amy was crying over and over again.
She said the children were asleep and so she left them to sell "puto" (rice cakes).
The Tumayao family was renting a room in a boarding house owned by one Letecia Balat.
The fire was said to have originated from that room at around 2 p.m.
"Nisinggit na among ubang boarders nga sunog didto nagsugod sa room nilang Tumayao. Among gipaningkamotan og luwas ang mga bata pero di man mi kasulod kay
gi-lock man ang pultahan, nasamad pa gani ko kay akong gipatiran," Balat said. (My boarders were shouting fire and that it started inside the Tumayao's room. We tried to save the children but we couldn't get in because the door was locked. I even injured myself after I tried breaking the door down.)
"The victims were trapped inside the house kaya di sila nakalabas," said SPO2 Jun Diagbel, investigator of the Sasa Police station.
The fire immediately spread in the densely populated community and was finally placed under control after razing 11 houses at Purok Sto. Rosario and three at Purok Immaculate Concepcion.
Initial count by the City Social Services and Development Office showed 20 families were affected.
Sasa barangay captain Juanito Flores assured that the affected families will be given assistance.
"Ipasalig ko na nga dili sila pasagdan pero sa pagkakaron, gihulat pa namo ang final report para atong i-coordinate sa CSSDO ug among buhaton kutob sa among ikatabang," Flores said. (We can assure all those affected of help but we're just waiting for the final report from the CSSCO so we can coordinate with them what help we can extend.)
The fire victims are temporarily housed at the covered court of the Osmeña Elementary School in Sasa.
The fire was placed under control after an hour and a half by the responding teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Filipino-Chinese Fire Brigade.
The bodies of the three children were brought to the Angel Funeral Parlor.
The BFP has yet to determine the cost of fire damages.
(September 14, 2004 issue)
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