A MAN believed to have recently been released from jail was pinpointed to have caused the late afternoon blaze that destroyed around 300 houses in Sitio Lawis in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Friday, November 26, 2021.
The fire, which occurred at around 5:10 p.m., destroyed around P875,000 worth of infrastructure.
Fire investigators identified Rolly Siso, a resident of the area, as having caused the fire.
Siso was recently released from the Cebu City Jail for an unspecified crime he had committed.
Fire Officer 3 Fulton Navarro told SunStar Cebu that Siso had intentionally burned down his house, which he had rented from a certain Marlyn Sitoy.
After he was seen to have caused the fire, Siso was reportedly shot and mauled by his neighbors.
Siso is currently admitted in a hospital in the city for immediate medical attention. He is currently on hospital arrest.
Navarro said they are now coordinating with local police to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.
Police are also trying to determine who shot and mauled Siso.
The fire reportedly occurred at around 5:10 p.m. and was placed on first alarm three minutes later.The fire was eventually placed under control at 7:25 p.m. (BBT / JKV)