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Saturday, September 02, 2006
3 kids die in fire; older sis, 7, lives
By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Three children were burned beyond recognition in a fire that razed their house in Sitio Upper Alangasil, Barangay Madridejos in the southwestern Cebu town of Alegria last Thursday night.
Policemen who arrived in the area about two hours after blaze found the bodies of Christian, 1, April Lyn, 3, and Jessa Lastimoso, 5, among the ruins of the house made of light materials.
The children were left home by their parents Sulpicio, 46, and Julia, 43, who went to the neighboring Sitio Lower Alangasil to attend a coronation night where one of their daughters was a candidate.
The victims were among the 13 children of the Lastimoso couple.
SPO2 Juan Cardona Jr., the investigator assigned to the case, said four children were actually left by the couple but seven-year-old Marifel was able to escape.
With the help of Marifel, the police identified the fatalities based on where their bodies were found.
The two bodies near each other were identified as April Lyn and Christian. Jessa was retrieved a few meters away in a fetal position.
Marifel told Cardona that April Lyn stayed with Christian, who was placed in a hammock, while Jessa ran a few meters away and tried to cover herself in a corner.
Marifel was able to reach the door and escape.
Cardona said the fire, sparked by embers, started in the kitchen.
No fire trucks arrived. The firecycle donated by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. was also not used because it ran out of chemicals for firefighting.
The fire reportedly started about 8 p.m., but the police received the call for assistance only after the house was already burned down, Cardona said.
“Somebody came here after the fire,” Cardona said.
Sitio Upper Alangasil is a mountain barangay about 10 kilometers ride from the town proper and half a kilometer walking distance from the barangay hall.
The police arrived at the fire scene around 10 p.m.
“When we arrived there was nothing we more could do. We just looked for the children,” Cardona said.
The children were buried Friday afternoon in the local cemetery.
Alegria Mayor Raul Guisadio gave financial aid to the parents.
Guisadio is also scheduled to meet with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to ask for assistance for the Lastimoso family.
The fire last Thursday was the sixth to hit the town this year.
Last June 12, a 48-year-old woman and her six-month-old grandson were burned to death while sleeping in their house in the neighboring Sitio Sangi, Madridejos.
The fire last Thursday again highlighted the need for a fire station in the southwestern town.
Alegria has no fire truck and only depends on the assistance from its neighboring towns of Badian and Malabuyoc whenever fire occurs. (With DRT of Superbalita)
(September 2, 2006 issue)
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