Three separate fires tore through different slum areas of Metro Manila yesterday, killing three and injuring nine.
The first – a four-hour blaze started past 2am by an arsonist who set a motorcycle on fire – wounded eight and left 2,000 people homeless in a shanty area of Tampoi II in Marulus Village, Valenzuela City.
“It’s arson,” said City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Lagan, adding that it was the “fourth try” this year that the man had tried to start a fire. The motorcycle was reportedly owned by the Jamolod couple who lived in the middle of the area. Lagan said that P5 million in damage was done to two nearby factories as well.
The next blaze began after 9am in Quezon City and destroyed 50 shanties along Quirinio Highway in Barangay Unang Sigaw. Roger Mabesa, head of the village watchmen, said a woman had tried to commit suicide by drinking silver cleaning fluid because her husband was thought to be having an affair. In the rush to bring her to the hospital, lit candles were left in an apartment which cause the blaze, which left 100 families homeless.
The last fire in Manila’s notorious Tondo slum area began after 2pm and killed three unidentified males aged two, 22, and 44. The blaze destroyedabout 100 houses and left 200 families homeless, Fire Inspector Bonifacio Carta told the Philippine Star.
Coconuts TV subject and inspirational ballerina Jessa Balote hails from the Tondo area.
