Michael Muñoz, 32, was beaten to death by his neighbors in Barangay St. Joseph, San Juan City, on suspicion that he set fire to their houses. The fire, which started at 2:25 a.m. and was put out at 7:20 a.m., damaged at least 800 houses, left around 4,000 people homeless, and injured 19 people.
Police Officer Clifford Hipolito has not yet confirmed whether the fire was really started by Muñoz, who died from severe head injuries and fractured bones, according to philstar.com.
Interestingly, a witness told Officer Hipolito that he also heard a boy asking his mother why she set their clothes on fire using a lit candle.
However, Chief Inspector Gilbert Dolot says that the cause of the fire was a lit candle left unattended at the house of Francisco Paulete at No. 41 Marne Street, which was being rented by Edtolyn Borja.
